Message From the Chancellor (COVID-19 May 1, 2020 6:52 p.m.)

Happy May Day

Dear Texas Woman’s Community,

I hope this message finds you well on the first day of May and the final class day of the spring semester.

In Belgium, May Day is a national holiday, known in our three official languages as 1) Dag van de arbeid 2) Fête du Travail, and 3) Tag der Arbeit — Labor Day. And, while it may also be the final day of classes, I know many are making a last push before final exams start—tomorrow! Your “labor” is not over, yet. Good luck to everyone!

Though foreign, I would also like to use this Belgian holiday to acknowledge once again our medical personnel, essential workers, and first responders. My husband acquired a yard sign mady by university photographer, Michael Modecki, that he installed outside University House, where we live here on the Denton campus.

Thanks also to the Texas Tribune and Shannon Najmabadi’s article—“Texas’ front-line workers in the pandemic are predominantly women and people of color, analysis finds”—whose headline speaks for itself. Front-line workers, THANK YOU, indeed!

Remember this weekend to adopt the mindset that “failure is not an option,” whether your goal is to rejuvenate or to redouble your efforts in 1) solving quadratic equations, 2) memorizing the conjugations of the most common irregular Spanish verbs, 3) synthesizing the metabolic manipulations in virus-infected cells, …the list goes on. Whatever the case, I wish ya’ll the best of weekends as we continue to persevere—with courage derived from the support of one another—through what lies ahead.

With a pioneering spirit,

Carine M. Feyten, Ph.D.
Chancellor and President

P.S. For the latest information, check out the TWU COVID-19 webpage.

Page last updated 8:33 AM, May 4, 2020