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CU Boulder: These two words link the University of Colorado and the Boulder community.

You can’t talk about CU without Boulder, and across the world, when people think of Boulder, they also think about CU. It has been this way since the 1860s, when Boulder first fought off challenges from Burlington and other Colorado communities that sought to serve as the site of the state’s flagship university, and in the 1870s, when 104 Boulder citizens raised $16,806.66 to lay the cornerstone of Old Main. CU would not exist without the kindness and generosity of our neighbors.

That is why, when Boulder grieves, CU also grieves.

In the past month, we’ve grieved twice. First, when a riot threatened the health and safety of the University Hill neighborhood, and then just over a week ago when a gunman robbed Boulder of 10 of its own at the Table Mesa King Soopers grocery store. Ten people with hopes, dreams, fears, friends and families. Just like any of us.

In these two moments, CU’s place in our community stood in stark contrast. In the first case, I was ashamed and embarrassed that some among us harmed our neighbors and the police officers who are sworn to protect us. In the second case, I’ve never been prouder to be a member of the CU family. Our CU Boulder Police Department responded with bravery together with the Boulder Police Department in the immediate defense of those in danger. And in the days since, so many have demonstrated care and compassion. Our mental health providers, student affairs team, human resources specialists, and so many others who had already stepped up time and time again once again gave selflessly of themselves.

We have endured so much in the past year. None of us will emerge unchanged.

CU will recover. So will Boulder. But we must recover together.

We have all read about our “town-and-gown” relationship, and I understand what the phrase means, but it suggests that the town and the university are divided, and we’re too intertwined to think that way. CU has been part of Boulder for 145 years. Throughout that time, we’ve built and reinforced our bonds with the clear understanding that our success and well-being depend on how well we support each other.

Just look at the connections between us. Our partners include neighborhood associations, community organizations, local businesses and the Boulder Chamber to name only a few. We work closely with many other city entities, including the Boulder City Council, the Boulder Police Department, Boulder Fire-Rescue, and the city’s planning and development, transportation, and climate and sustainability offices.

We are also thankful for our county partners such as Boulder County Public Health, the sheriff’s office and the district attorney’s office. Each of these partners provides resources and support to our campus during natural and human-caused disasters, large campus events, long-term planning initiatives and public health crises. Not a day passes where CU and Boulder don't connect to each other.

In the weeks and months ahead, we must strengthen these connections, following the lead of people such as Associate Vice Chancellor JB Banks, who is leading Student Affairs while Vice Chancellor Akirah Bradley is on parental leave. JB and his team have been working with the Office of Government and Community Engagement to build relationships with our students and neighbors on the Hill and to improve their collective experience. I’m also grateful to CUPD Chief Doreen Jokerst and her officers, Acting Dean of �鶹��Ժ Devin Cramer, Director of Off-Campus Housing and Community Relations Jeff Morris, Director of Local Government and Community Relations Kim Calomino, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Public Policy and Advocacy Kirsten Schuchman, and so many others who work every day to build stronger attachments between our campus and our community.

Today, I also invite you to join me in celebrating Frances Draper as she retires. Frances most recently served as a senior strategic advisor for CU Boulder’s Office of Government and Community Engagement, but that was the last of many roles where she served as a conduit between CU and the city of Boulder. From the mayor’s office, to Boulder City Council meetings to the Boulder Chamber––Frances has been a relentless champion who helped CU and Boulder achieve more together than we ever could have achieved apart. Please read about her contributions and thank her for making our future bright.

We’ve been distant from each other for more than a year. Many of you are struggling, and I urge you to reach out to family, friends, and colleagues, as those personal connections help us heal. If you need help, please contact the Faculty and Staff Assistance Program. While we have important work ahead of us, I again urge supervisors to be flexible and empathetic in the days and weeks ahead. Small gestures of kindness, both at work and in our communities, are the foundation of renewal.

CU Boulder. Together.

Pat