A message from the Vice Provost and Dean of Students
TUESDAY, JUNE 2, 2020
Dear Students –
I reach out to you with a heavy heart for our country, our campus, and most of all, for you - our students. I write to offer support as you plan for your return to Indiana University Bloomington.
In the midst of the recent public racialized killings of black and brown community members in the United States, including the senseless killings of Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, and Ahmaud Arbery, I see the disproportionate impact of pain and fear from these events on black and brown students.
The Office of Student Life stands with you as an ally. I see the concern of many students and student leaders across campus who want to engage in solidarity through all of their areas of influence: family, friends, peer groups, and campus. The Division stands with you in partnership. I see the students who are unaware and who may have questions but do not know where to start. The Office of Student Life is here with education.
I know you may wonder what we are doing, and what we expect from you as students, as we recover from the pain of these injustices and continue to address hate, bias, racism, and white supremacy. These incidents continue to motivate us to create a more inclusive environment, promote open dialogue, and encourage students to share their stories.
Remember, the following IU resources are available to support you:
- The Office of Student Life stands ready to speak and, more importantly, listen to you if you would like to talk about what you are witnessing in your home towns, on social media, and/or on local or national news. Please let us know if you need support by submitting a Care Referral.
- I know it may be difficult to focus and engage academically at this time.Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) is operating remotely for one-on-one counseling and is offering free online workshops on mindfulness and coping. Join CAPS for a conversation about race, the state of our country, and your experiences this Thursday 6/4. Learn more here.
- Neal Marshall Black Cultural Center, La Casa Latino Cultural Center, First Nations Education and Cultural Center, Asian Cultural Center, Hillel, and LGBTQ+ Cultural Center remain remotely accessible for all of our students.
- IUPD remains committed to community policing, implicit bias training, and
de-escalation techniques. Learn more here.
Your Student Life team is:
- Working in solidarity with our students and campus partners to create a more inclusive campus, absent of the prejudices that lead to the disproportionate deaths of black and brown people by those who are entrusted to protect communities.
- Supporting IU Student Government (IUSG), the Graduate and Professional Student Government (GPSG) and other vital student organizations in addressing racism and dismantling inequities on campus. See IUSG’s recent statement here.
- Offering continued programming and educational efforts around diversity, equity, racism, and social justice for students and staff.
- Providing caring support to students who experience bias, discrimination, harassment and racism. Fill out a report here to share information.
We ask you to:
- Take care of yourself, and use the resources listed if needed.
- If you are not a student of color, stay aware and conscious of the ways in which your life experiences may be different from others, and remain compassionate and empathetic to what your peers may be going through.
- Challenge yourself and those around you to learn about the experiences of others. Educate yourself, act, interact, and treat others with the same regard and respect you hope to receive.
- Ask yourself “How am I making sure IU is an inclusive space for all students?”
As Hoosiers, we all have a responsibility to each other to move from polarizing dialogues to thoughtful conversations where we grow and learn together.
Please join me in committing to being a better Hoosier.
Dean Dave
Dave O’Guinn
Vice Provost for Student Life and Dean of Students
Office of Student Life