To our community,

We must stand together because there is strength in numbers. The Board of Trustees has had ample time to respond, and their silence indicates their support for President Wang and CFO Dave Lawlor.

Yesterday, March 6th, 2025, just days after we released our petition, we received email communication from the President's office, notably from the communication staff.  Her letter response is generic, misleading, and, frankly, too late. Please note, this is the FIRST public form of communication from President Wang since her notice above dismantling and defunding effective immediately our open to all Affinity groups.

The email starts with a hyperlink to a "mission" statement, as though the community needs to be reminded of our mission and values. Mentioning the 116 years of SMU’s establishment only serves to distract from the real issues at hand. This tactic is designed to evoke an emotional response rather than address our valid concerns.

It's disappointing that this communication doesn’t reflect a genuine commitment to the well-being of SMU students and faculty, unlike her previous letter to the affinity groups, which prioritized "financial stewardship" over our community's welfare.

President Wang's use of intimidation tactics is unacceptable. She seeks to instill fear in students, faculty, and staff who are advocating for justice. Many have chosen to remain silent, fearing retaliation in their programs or losing their jobs should they support this petition. This is not the environment we deserve; it undermines the safety and well-being of our community.

We have had enough. It is time to demand accountability from President Wang, CFO Lawlor, and the Board of Trustees. We refuse to accept any more performative acts and deception. We call for a thorough and critical review of their misuse of responsibilities and power.

An upcoming meeting has been scheduled for “the community,” but we will not be silenced by the conditions they’ve imposed:

1. The meeting will take place in person, which limits attendance for those who work or live far away.

2. Students and faculty, as well as colleges will be segregated into separate meetings, reducing opportunities for collective expression and stronger advocacy.

3. All questions must be submitted ahead of time, allowing President Wang and her team to prepare answers rather than respond honestly on the spot, which she rarely does.

If you choose to attend, save your questions for in-person discussion. This will allow us to hear directly from President Wang without the influence of her cabinet.

Here is the schedule below:

March 13th OAKLAND

•  CoHS Student Sessions- 12:00PM in the HEC 312 
  
  
•  Faculty & Staff Sessions- 1:00PM in the HEC 312 

March 13th SACRAMENTO

• CoN Student Session - 12:00 PM in Classroom 1
• CoN Faculty & Staff Session - 1:00 PM in Classroom 1                                                   (Two meetings simultaneously indicate that she will not be present for both.)

April 1st SFLP

• CoN Student Session - 12:00 PM in Student Lounge
  CoN Faculty & Staff Session - 1:00 PM in Classroom 1 

April 3rd OAKLAND

• CoN Student Sessions- 12:00PM in the HEC 103 
• Faculty & Staff Sessions- 1:00PM in the HEC 103 

April 17th OAKLAND

• CoPM Student Sessions- 12:00PM in the Bechtel Room
• CoPM Faculty & Staff Sessions- 1:00PM in the Bechtel Room