Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff,
I would like to echo the words from University of Minnesota President Joan Gabel and the email you received from her about the fatal police shooting in Brooklyn Center last night. As she stated and I wholeheartedly agree with, “Black members of our community face circumstances that put their lives at risk every day. This must stop, but will only end when each of us accepts that we all have a role to play in building a more equitable, safe, and welcoming community.”As our campus community and our society continues to grapple with these painful realities, you may find yourself feeling discouraged and exhausted. It is a long and difficult road, and one that seems to be full of obstacles as these events keep happening. It is critical that we maintain our commitment to do all we can to address structural and systemic racism and rely on each other to persevere.
The events of last night combined with the ongoing trial of former police officer Derek Chauvin create a confounding space, with numerous uncertainties. While many things are outside of our immediate control, we can support each other, listen to each other, learn and grow, and take action in our commitment to diversity, inclusion, and peaceful responses.
I’d like to remind you of the support resources available and encourage you to engage these resources as needed.
- Students: UMD Counseling Services - including Let’s Talk Drop-in counseling services
- Students: UMD Office of Diversity and Inclusion
- Faculty and staff: Supporting UMD Students During the Chauvin Trial - a comprehensive list of resources for supporting students during this time
- Faculty and staff: Office of Human Resources Diversity and Inclusion Resources; Mental Health Resources
- The Office for Public Engagement on the Twin Cities campus Derek Chauvin trial website with useful resources, including a great section on past events, recordings, and scholarship that help individuals engage in dialogue about racial justice.
Sincerely,
Lendley C. Black
Chancellor
