Standing Together as a Community of Care

Dear Stockton Community,

The new academic year has just begun, yet our nation is already facing heartbreak, fear, and pain. We’ve witnessed political assassinations and acts of violence that have shaken the country, school shootings that have devastated families, and moments of unrest that continue to divide and destabilize communities. Around the world, conflict and tragedy tear families apart and deepen the sense of uncertainty. It can feel like an endless cycle of violence that weighs heavily on all of us. 

Yesterday, our own Stockton community was directly touched by this reality. The shelter-in-place alert, issued in response to an off-campus shooting, was a sobering reminder of how unsettling and frightening these moments can be. The violence we so often see on the news is not distant. It can reach our doorsteps, and affect our students, faculty, and staff in real and immediate ways. 

I do not want this moment to pass without speaking directly to you. Stockton must stand firm in who we are and what we believe. At the heart of our identity is our Ethic of Care, grounded in dignity, respect, kindness, compassion, and civility. These values remind us that our university must always be a place of safety, of care, and of community. It must also be a place where ideas are shared openly, where differences are expressed with respect, and where civil discourse is not only protected but encouraged. 

That responsibility belongs to all of us. Each of us plays a part in making sure these values are not just spoken but lived in how we treat one another, in how we listen, and in how we carry ourselves each day. Violence and hatred have no place here. 

The strength of Stockton shows up every day in how you treat one another. It is found in the conversations you have, the kindness you show, and the ways you build a community where every person feels they belong. 

This is who we are. And this is who we must continue to be. 

And please know this: if today feels heavy, you are not alone. Stockton has resources to support you:

Please reach out. At Stockton, caring for yourself and one another is part of who we are. We do not change our values to fit the moment. We stand by them. And together, we will keep shaping the future of Stockton with hope and with heart. 

Sincerely,

President Joe Bertolino