Committed to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
TUESDAY, JUNE 2, 2020
Dear Colleagues,
I write you today with a heavy heart for our country, our campus, and our students, as we witness the ongoing violence against black and brown people across our community including the senseless killing of Breonna Taylor, and the murders of George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery. Other murders and violent protests have greatly impacted some of the cities that many of our students call home. Regardless of where their home is, these incidents have proliferated news and social media, and our students will bring this experience and trauma with them as they return in person or remotely to campus. While lots of people have been impacted by the recent events in Minnesota, Georgia, and elsewhere, African American and black people are especially targeted and impacted.
We represent IU, an institution that values diversity and equity. IU has issued a number of statements including messages from President McRobbie, Vice President Wimbush, and the IU Police Department.
You also represent the Office of Student Life, a division that holds at its core: equity, diversity, and inclusion as we serve all students. Incidents of racism have had an impact, and will continue to impact, our students. These incidents will continue to impact you.
I am asking you to talk to each other about what is happening, and to educate each other on the experiences of lives that may be very similar or very different from your own. I am asking you to think about what our students need from you as you see them and provide space for them. I am asking you to take care of yourself now so you can continue to care for students disproportionately affected, and so you can continue to educate students who are unaware or lack compassion.
I am committed to ensuring you have access to the resources you may need to build your own personal and professional knowledge, awareness, and skills when it comes to issues of diversity and social justice.
I am committed to continuing education and programming about diversity and multi-culturalism. We will be sharing more about a series of conversations about current events and building an inclusive community for you to participate in for your personal and professional development.
I am committed to acknowledging and dismantling the ways in which Student Life contributes in any way to systems of inequity at IU, and I am asking you to commit with me.
Please consider how your position enables you to address racism on campus, and what you may need to dismantle hate, bias, and racism in our home at IU. Please let me know what you need to be more effective in your support of our students.
We can continue to be better together, for the success of our students.
Sincerely,
Dean Dave
Dave O’Guinn
Vice Provost for Student Life and Dean of Students
Office of Student Life