A Letter from Dr. Jake Bucher

“A Rose of Justice by Any Other Name”

As we start the new calendar year, I want to highlight the value of being people in service of and with others, particularly framing that service as justice work. We are entering a chapter in our social history when there are concerns about certain injustices continuing, some that were long thought to be resolved being revived, and some new injustices being created. For many, this doesn’t feel like a new chapter – just an ongoing struggle, but whether new or continued, for many this feels like a threat to the very core of who we are and what we do.

With my first letter of the year, I want to clearly and absolutely reiterate our commitment to the Jesuit values of service and justice, and walking with the marginalized. These values attract people to Regis, keep them here, and inform every decision that we make. While external forces may change the way in which we pursue these values, they cannot and will not hinder the pursuit. Not only will the work not be deterred, these external factors allow us to fully and critically examine the work that we are doing. Too often justice work, or larger social change, is inherently performative as people focus on what we name things, what “official statements” have been made, etc. – with less focus on what is actually being done and who is actually impacted. We do not need to hashtag the work; we can sacrifice names and titles without sacrificing the work itself.

As one example of how we continue this work, we are having our inaugural Service Week the week of Jan. 20. Attached to this letter is information about some of the many ways you can engage in service that week, either as a team/unit or individual. These resources and opportunities are not exhaustive, nor are they intended to be proscriptive. The goal is for you to engage in whichever ways you are called/moved, recognizing that working at Regis is more than punching a clock – it is a deeper commitment to, and alignment and pursuit of, core values.

The spirit of the week is to join with friends and colleagues in acts of service, but certainly that spirit can extend beyond this week. We hope that this centering of our values on service and justice helps remind you of your “why,” and gives you the strength and purpose, to take on the realities of 2025.