History shows that California governor Gavin Newsom took office on the seventh day of 2019 under clear skies in Sacramento—in itself an unusual occurrence, as winter weather in California’s state capital has been known to literally rain on a new governor’s parade.

The Covid-19 pandemic has been catastrophic and devastating for those who have succumbed to it. The important issue for us societally and globally is that the risk group is defined and we know much better in March 2021 how to target and manage a response. March 2021 is not February 2020.

It is always a great pleasure, and an important part of my job, to speak to students. It is essential for students to hear ideas from many sources, especially ideas they may not agree with. That is a key part of learning how to think critically – and critical thinking is the most important lesson to learn in college, in my opinion.

Our republic will not survive unless more people begin to step up in defense of freedom of thought and speech.