January 16, 2026

As winter quarter 2026 gets underway, here are three events that have occurred: United States armed forces, under the direction of the US President, conducted a secret military operation with no approval from Congress to abduct the leader of a sovereign foreign country in an apparent violation of standing international law; an Immigration and Customs Enforcement Officer in Minneapolis shot and killed an unarmed American citizen on a residential city street and Homeland Security officials continued to justify the action by publicly lying about the details of the tragedy; and a Philosophy Professor at Texas A&M University has been forced by his school to remove the Symposium by Plato from his syllabus because it supposedly violates university rules restricting teaching about race and gender.

And we’re not even two weeks in!

I write this to highlight the world in which CCCFT members come to the classroom every day and the background pressures we—and our students—face in doing so. And to emphasize our commitment to teaching and learning in ways that empower our students to face the challenges of this world, even when doing so requires us to carry on in spite of those pressures.

I also write to recognize how Cascadia College has historically been a place where academic freedom, social justice, and support for immigrant students and communities have all been valued and supported. And I hold on to every hope that those values will continue to be at the foundation and forefront of all that we do.

And so, I implore our Board of Trustees and President Murray to resist any incursions by government officials or non-official parties that would seek to undermine our core educational mission to educate students and help create a more free, just, and peaceful society for everyone, especially those who are most vulnerable.

We are in this effort together, and so we ask for assurance that in the likely event that the remaining months of 2026 (and beyond) will continue on the trajectory of we have seen so far, that our College leadership will bring to this effort the same commitment to our shared values and mission that CCCFT members do every day. I have every confidence that this will be the case, but in times such as this, it is vital that these words are heard and affirmed by those in positions of leadership and authority.

Thank you, David, for articulating the current pressures of teaching and learning at Cascadia. Each morning, I review several news sources to understand the dynamic of our world, nation, and local region. Each morning, I consider how Cascadia should, or would, respond in cases such as those mentioned above. It is daunting sometimes. But I have extreme clarity on what is important to our institution and how we need to represent as our community’s college.

Rest assured that Cascadia College is unwavering in its dedication to being the community’s college, and to inspire every person to achieve their educational goals. Most importantly, Cascadia’s leadership understands that staff, faculty, and student voices are vital to that mission and to creating an environment where every member of the community offers the respect of listening and learning from others no matter their viewpoint.

In the current legal and political landscape, issues may arise that call for the administration to use their best judgement, and in doing so we will always error on the side of truth, transparency, equity, and inclusion. Cascadia remains committed to the promise of academic freedom and freedom of expression and to using our shared governance model to work our way through difficult issues. The best interest of employees and students will continue to guide our decision-making, as do our policies and procedures, which reside well within the boundaries of federal and state law regardless of how those laws may be interpreted or reinterpreted of late.

It is important to note that the State of Washington is also working to defend its citizens’ rights under state and federal law, which includes the right of educators and institutions to design and teach curricular materials that support our learning outcomes and further Cascadia’s mission and vision.

We have been through difficult times before. It is in this moment that I appreciate the longevity of so many faculty and their commitment to the values of this institution. It is also a moment when I value the relationship I have built with each staff and faculty member over 16 years. This relationship allows for good, honest communication about what we do well and where we need to course-correct. I also appreciate that our Assistant Attorney General (Ellen Evans) is such a beneficial part of our team.

So yes, my friend and colleague David, I assure you that college leadership shares your same commitment. And, when our values are challenged, I commit to working with you to find the best course of action.