January 5, 2022
Dear members of the McGill community:
Welcome to the start of a new year and a new academic term.
I know that for many of us, the holiday season that has just ended was not as bright as we had hoped it would be. Just the same, I hope you will have enjoyed some tranquil time with loved ones and that this time was restorative.
As we begin a new calendar year, I invite each of us to recall and renew our commitment to the goals that drive McGill’s academic mission, namely: the ambitious pursuit of knowledge, the open exchange of ideas, and an unequivocal commitment to respect and inclusion in campus life.
McGill’s Principles – academic freedom, integrity, responsibility, equity, and inclusiveness – embrace these commitments.
Although we are beginning this term learning and working primarily through remote formats, we look forward to the prudent resumption of on-campus activities as soon as public health conditions permit. Regardless of whether our interactions occur in-person or virtually, our commitment to upholding responsible and respectful learning and work settings must remain resolute.
Accordingly, as I do at the start of every academic term, I draw your attention to two McGill policies: Policy on Harassment and Discrimination and Policy against Sexual Violence. These affirm that each of us has the right be treated with dignity and fairness, and to work and learn in campus environments that are free of harassment, sexual violence, and discrimination. These Policies also establish that we each have a responsibility to respect these rights for others on campus.
While our policies represent the baseline of conduct, we are in fact called to rise above that mark. Notably, and especially for the year ahead, I hope that members of the McGill community will practice patience, civility, understanding, and optimism. In this way, we stand well-equipped to weather effectively, together, the ongoing challenges of the pandemic, which add a thick layer of complexity to our collective work of building a campus community wherein rigorous teaching and research get done, and people listen to and look out for one another.
Having said this, let me underscore that unflappable stoicism is not our aim. We are nearing two full years of life in a pandemic, now living with renewed restrictions that limit many activities and interactions that bring us joy and levity. These circumstances are very difficult, and so I encourage each of us to take care and reach out for support when it is needed.
Sincerely,
Professor Christopher Manfredi
Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic)
Resources:
Office for Sexual Violence Response, Support & Education (OSVRSE)
Office for Mediation & Reporting (OMR)
Wellness Hub (Students)
Employee & Family Assistance Program (Faculty & Staff)