To the Case Western Reserve Community:
It is my great pleasure to welcome you to a new semester. As much as we appreciate the arrival of winter break after the intensity of the term’s final weeks, the campus is not fully itself without the curiosity and energy of students—and the passion and expertise of faculty. Learning and discovery thrive in the presence of so many varying backgrounds and experiences, in large measure because of the rich exchange of ideas and perspectives that can follow. I hope that you find these first days back full of such opportunities, both within and outside of your classes.
Sadly, this term also begins with a tragedy within our neighborhood. As many of you may have read, an off-duty Cleveland police officer providing security at the Corner Alley Saturday evening fatally shot Thomas Yatsko, 21, during an altercation outside the establishment. Mr. Yatsko was not affiliated with Case Western Reserve. We extend sympathy and concern to all of those affected by this incident.
I also wanted to take this opportunity to remind the campus that this week marks our annual Martin Luther King Jr. celebration, which concludes Friday with our annual convocation in honor of the renowned civil rights leader. This year’s speaker is Nikole Hannah-Jones, New York Times Magazine staff writer and 2017 MacArthur Fellow. Hannah-Jones has written extensively regarding racial inequality, including how it is reflected in the resegregation of schools and housing. The event, at 12:45 p.m. in the Kelvin and Eleanor Smith Ballroom of the Tinkham Veale University Center, is free and open to the public. To register please visit case.edu/events/mlk/.
Finally, this first week of classes also provides an opportunity to reflect on the past. Behind the Story is our report on the 2016-2017 year, one that featured extraordinary breakthroughs in research, exceptional responses like #YouAreWelcomeHereCWRU, and the first admissions of undergraduates under our Meet Full Need policy. You can learn more about these and other stories at case.edu/behindthestory.
With best wishes for a positive semester,
Barbara R. Snyder
President