Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff,
Today,
Juneteenth, is an important day that commemorates the emancipation of
Black people from slavery. Today we celebrate the freedom and
independence of Black people as we advocate for all people who are
underrepresented and marginalized in our country. This year’s Juneteenth
commemoration is marked by a new energy for change amid the recent
troubling and wrenching killings of Black people. Unfortunately, freedom
has not and is not applied equally to all people in our country.
Within
the current calls to further recognize and end racial injustice, today
feels especially significant. As a public university, we have a
responsibility to utilize our resources and knowledge to support Black
communities, other communities of color, Indigenous communities, and
LGBTQ communities at UMD and across Minnesota as we work towards
significant change. I encourage you all to reflect and educate
yourselves on this important history. The Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture’s Celebrating Juneteenth is a worthwhile start.
Another
significant milestone occurred this week with the Supreme Court’s
decision to protect LGBTQ civil rights and deny efforts to end legal
protections for young immigrants under the Deferred Action for Childhood
Arrivals (DACA) program. These decisions align with our values and
continuous support to all members of our campus community. Along with
President Gabel and other higher education leaders across the country, I
remain committed to advocating for the continued support of DACA and
the continued goal of providing access to higher education for all. In
September 2017, I joined chancellors and presidents, who are members of
the American Council on Education, in a national letter of support for
DACA. I encourage you to learn more about the DACA program and the work
of the University of Minnesota Immigration Response Team.
On this special day, you have my best wishes for health and peace.
Lendley C. Black
Chancellor
Friday, June 19, 2020
Friday, June 12, 2020
Your Upcoming Fall Semester at UMD - Returning Students
Dear UMD Students,
In addition to dealing with and adjusting to COVID-19, the pain, frustration, and fear created by the killing of George Floyd continues to disturb me and our UMD community. As I work to take meaningful action, I am listening to your concerns and thoughtfully considering the many suggestions and requests that have come to me over the past few weeks. In addition, I am working with the Vice Chancellors, Director of the Office for Diversity and Inclusion Susana Pelayo-Woodward, the Campus Climate Leadership Team, and UMD faculty, staff, and student leadership to develop specific action plans to move our critical work in equity, diversity, inclusiveness, and social justice to new levels, to address structural racism, and to demand accountability from units and departments on addressing equity and inclusion.
The Campus Climate Leadership Team meets next week, and we will develop the process to identify new initiatives, programs, and scholarships, as well as the process to examine systems that impact campus climate. We will move forward plans to increase required training for faculty, staff, and students in diversity, equity, inclusion, and implicit bias. We will work with students and partners to ensure equitable access to technology on and off campus.
We will work closely with our UMD Police Department and with the police and public safety departments in the Twin Ports area to ensure all members of our community are treated equitably with a primary focus on public safety.
Fall 2020
I am looking forward to this upcoming fall semester that will provide our students with the exceptional educational experience you deserve and expect, while prioritizing the safety of our campus community. This week, the president of the University of Minnesota System, Joan Gabel, outlined the University’s plans for fall semester. I want to share UMD’s roadmap for welcoming you back to campus.
Please know, the University continues to monitor the COVID-19 pandemic. We invite you back to campus this fall in accordance with public health guidelines and with the following in mind:
Adjustments to our instructional, recreational, and living spaces will take place in order to support a safe and productive learning environment. This includes appropriate physical distancing and the availability of masks and hand sanitizing stations. We are also currently considering extending the instructional day with some courses offered during evening hours, moving some courses or portions of courses online, and adapting student support services for both in-person and virtual delivery.
All areas of UMD are engaged in planning a fall semester that can adapt as needed while supporting your academic goals. Any changes to your schedule and classes will be communicated in your MyU account on or before August 1. We will start our fall semester as scheduled with classes beginning August 31, cancel the fall break, and end face-to-face classes by the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. Details about campus services after Thanksgiving will be shared as the summer progresses.
I can assure you that all adjustments prioritize the well-being of our community members and are made in consultation with public health guidance. Please visit the UMD Coronavirus website for more information about this plan.
We will keep you informed as fall planning continues. In the meantime, I encourage you to remain committed to your educational, career, and personal goals. At this time, we hope to have a full spring 2021 semester, but we have to continue to be flexible as public health conditions evolve.
Best wishes and I look forward to seeing you in the fall.
Sincerely,
Lendley C. Black
Chancellor
In addition to dealing with and adjusting to COVID-19, the pain, frustration, and fear created by the killing of George Floyd continues to disturb me and our UMD community. As I work to take meaningful action, I am listening to your concerns and thoughtfully considering the many suggestions and requests that have come to me over the past few weeks. In addition, I am working with the Vice Chancellors, Director of the Office for Diversity and Inclusion Susana Pelayo-Woodward, the Campus Climate Leadership Team, and UMD faculty, staff, and student leadership to develop specific action plans to move our critical work in equity, diversity, inclusiveness, and social justice to new levels, to address structural racism, and to demand accountability from units and departments on addressing equity and inclusion.
The Campus Climate Leadership Team meets next week, and we will develop the process to identify new initiatives, programs, and scholarships, as well as the process to examine systems that impact campus climate. We will move forward plans to increase required training for faculty, staff, and students in diversity, equity, inclusion, and implicit bias. We will work with students and partners to ensure equitable access to technology on and off campus.
We will work closely with our UMD Police Department and with the police and public safety departments in the Twin Ports area to ensure all members of our community are treated equitably with a primary focus on public safety.
Fall 2020
I am looking forward to this upcoming fall semester that will provide our students with the exceptional educational experience you deserve and expect, while prioritizing the safety of our campus community. This week, the president of the University of Minnesota System, Joan Gabel, outlined the University’s plans for fall semester. I want to share UMD’s roadmap for welcoming you back to campus.
Please know, the University continues to monitor the COVID-19 pandemic. We invite you back to campus this fall in accordance with public health guidelines and with the following in mind:
- The University as a whole is doing everything it can to prevent the spread of COVID-19 among our University community.
- We all have an important role to play: being honest about our own health and keeping others around us safe.
All areas of UMD are engaged in planning a fall semester that can adapt as needed while supporting your academic goals. Any changes to your schedule and classes will be communicated in your MyU account on or before August 1. We will start our fall semester as scheduled with classes beginning August 31, cancel the fall break, and end face-to-face classes by the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. Details about campus services after Thanksgiving will be shared as the summer progresses.
I can assure you that all adjustments prioritize the well-being of our community members and are made in consultation with public health guidance. Please visit the UMD Coronavirus website for more information about this plan.
We will keep you informed as fall planning continues. In the meantime, I encourage you to remain committed to your educational, career, and personal goals. At this time, we hope to have a full spring 2021 semester, but we have to continue to be flexible as public health conditions evolve.
Best wishes and I look forward to seeing you in the fall.
Sincerely,
Lendley C. Black
Chancellor
Update from Chancellor Black
Dear UMD Faculty and Staff,
In addition to dealing with and adjusting to COVID-19, the pain, frustration, and fear created by the killing of George Floyd continues to disturb me and our UMD community. As I work to take meaningful action for our campus, I am listening to your concerns and thoughtfully considering the many suggestions and requests that have come to me over the past few weeks. In addition, I am working with the Vice Chancellors, Susana Pelayo-Woodward, the Campus Climate Leadership Team, and UMD faculty, staff, and student leaders to develop specific action plans to move our critical work in equity, diversity, inclusiveness, and social justice to new levels, to address structural racism, and to demand accountability from units and departments on addressing equity and inclusion.
The Campus Climate Leadership Team meets next week, and we will develop the process to identify new initiatives, programs, and scholarships, as well as the process to examine systems that impact campus climate. We will move forward plans to increase required training for faculty, staff, and students in diversity, equity, inclusion, and implicit bias. We will work with students and partners to ensure equitable access to technology on and off campus. We will work closely with our UMD Police Department and with the police and public safety departments in the Twin Ports area to ensure all members of our community are treated equitably with a primary focus on public safety.
Fall 2020
This week, University of Minnesota System President Joan Gabel outlined the University’s plans for fall semester. To build upon President Gabel’s proposal, which was approved today by the Board of Regents, I want to share UMD’s roadmap for welcoming students, faculty, and staff back to campus.
As always, I am looking forward to a fall semester that provides our new and returning students with the exceptional educational experience they expect, while prioritizing the safety of our campus community. Please know, the University continues to monitor the COVID-19 pandemic. UMD is committed to the prevention of COVID-19 spreading even as we look toward normalizing operations in accordance with public health guidelines and with the following in mind:
These
changes will include things such as reworking classroom spaces to allow
for appropriate physical distancing, providing hand sanitizing stations
and masks for members of our campus community, and adding sneeze guards
and fixed partitions where necessary according to Minnesota Department
of Health guidelines. Classes will be offered in alternative formats,
and the instructional day will be extended with additional evening
classes. We will use staggered work shifts, have in-office and
out-of-office days each week, and adapt student support services for
both in-person and virtual delivery. We will start our fall semester as
scheduled with classes beginning August 31, cancel the fall break, and
end face-to-face classes by the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. After
Thanksgiving, most classes and exams will occur through distance
modalities.
Ending Extended Reduced Operations
On Monday, June 22, we will end our extended reduced operations status and ease domestic travel restrictions. If you are able to work from home you should continue to do so. Any individual or unit seeking to return to work should continue to work with their supervisor and follow the Sunrise Plan process.
While the pandemic requires us to operate differently this fall semester, these adjustments prioritize the wellbeing of the campus and provide us the flexibility to adapt as necessary depending on public health guidance. These changes and public health considerations also allow us to have significant numbers of students on campus, while keeping our community as safe as they will be in other public locations. Please visit the UMD Coronavirus website for more information about this plan. At this time, we hope to have a full spring 2021 semester, but we have to continue to be flexible as public health conditions evolve.
Thank you for your outstanding work during this difficult time. I look forward to seeing you and our students this fall.
Best wishes,
Lendley C. Black
Chancellor
In addition to dealing with and adjusting to COVID-19, the pain, frustration, and fear created by the killing of George Floyd continues to disturb me and our UMD community. As I work to take meaningful action for our campus, I am listening to your concerns and thoughtfully considering the many suggestions and requests that have come to me over the past few weeks. In addition, I am working with the Vice Chancellors, Susana Pelayo-Woodward, the Campus Climate Leadership Team, and UMD faculty, staff, and student leaders to develop specific action plans to move our critical work in equity, diversity, inclusiveness, and social justice to new levels, to address structural racism, and to demand accountability from units and departments on addressing equity and inclusion.
The Campus Climate Leadership Team meets next week, and we will develop the process to identify new initiatives, programs, and scholarships, as well as the process to examine systems that impact campus climate. We will move forward plans to increase required training for faculty, staff, and students in diversity, equity, inclusion, and implicit bias. We will work with students and partners to ensure equitable access to technology on and off campus. We will work closely with our UMD Police Department and with the police and public safety departments in the Twin Ports area to ensure all members of our community are treated equitably with a primary focus on public safety.
Fall 2020
This week, University of Minnesota System President Joan Gabel outlined the University’s plans for fall semester. To build upon President Gabel’s proposal, which was approved today by the Board of Regents, I want to share UMD’s roadmap for welcoming students, faculty, and staff back to campus.
As always, I am looking forward to a fall semester that provides our new and returning students with the exceptional educational experience they expect, while prioritizing the safety of our campus community. Please know, the University continues to monitor the COVID-19 pandemic. UMD is committed to the prevention of COVID-19 spreading even as we look toward normalizing operations in accordance with public health guidelines and with the following in mind:
- The University as a whole is doing everything it can to prevent the spread of COVID-19 among our University community.
- We all have an important role to play: being honest about our own health and keeping others around us safe.
- Students will be on campus for the fall semester and we will alter the ways we work and learn to make our campus as safe as possible for our entire UMD community.
Ending Extended Reduced Operations
On Monday, June 22, we will end our extended reduced operations status and ease domestic travel restrictions. If you are able to work from home you should continue to do so. Any individual or unit seeking to return to work should continue to work with their supervisor and follow the Sunrise Plan process.
While the pandemic requires us to operate differently this fall semester, these adjustments prioritize the wellbeing of the campus and provide us the flexibility to adapt as necessary depending on public health guidance. These changes and public health considerations also allow us to have significant numbers of students on campus, while keeping our community as safe as they will be in other public locations. Please visit the UMD Coronavirus website for more information about this plan. At this time, we hope to have a full spring 2021 semester, but we have to continue to be flexible as public health conditions evolve.
Thank you for your outstanding work during this difficult time. I look forward to seeing you and our students this fall.
Best wishes,
Lendley C. Black
Chancellor
Your Upcoming Fall Semester at UMD - New Incoming Students
Dear Incoming UMD Students,
I am looking forward to this upcoming fall semester that will provide our new students with the exceptional educational experience you deserve and expect, while prioritizing the safety of our campus community. This week, the president of the University of Minnesota System, Joan Gabel, outlined the University’s plans for fall semester. I want to share UMD’s roadmap for welcoming you to campus.
Please know, the University continues to monitor the COVID-19 pandemic. We invite you to campus this fall in accordance with public health guidelines and with the following in mind:
Adjustments to our instructional, recreational, and living spaces will take place in order to support a safe and productive learning environment. This includes appropriate physical distancing and the availability of masks and hand sanitizing stations. We are also currently considering extending the instructional day with some courses offered during evening hours, moving some courses or portions of courses online, and adapting student support services for both in-person and virtual delivery.
All areas of UMD are engaged in planning a fall semester that can adapt as needed while supporting your successful transition to UMD. Any changes to your schedule and classes will be communicated in your MyU account on or before August 1. We will start our fall semester as scheduled with classes beginning August 31.
I can assure you that all adjustments prioritize the well-being of our community members and are made in consultation with public health guidance. Please visit the UMD Coronavirus website for more information about this plan.
We will keep you informed as fall planning continues. In the meantime, I encourage you to remain committed to your educational, career, and personal goals. We look forward to welcoming you to campus this August and to supporting your success every step of the way. At this time, we hope to have a full spring 2021 semester, but we have to continue to be flexible as public health conditions evolve.
In addition to dealing with and adjusting to COVID-19, the pain, frustration, and fear created by the killing of George Floyd continues to disturb me and our UMD community. As I work to take meaningful action, I am listening to your concerns and thoughtfully considering the many suggestions and requests that have come to me over the past few weeks. In addition, I am working with UMD administrators, faculty, staff, and student leadership to develop specific action plans to move our critical work in equity, diversity, inclusiveness, and social justice to new levels, to address structural racism, and to demand accountability from units and departments on addressing equity and inclusion. We will continue to work with students and partners to ensure equitable access to technology on and off campus.
Best wishes and I look forward to seeing you in the fall.
Sincerely,
Lendley C. Black
Chancellor
I am looking forward to this upcoming fall semester that will provide our new students with the exceptional educational experience you deserve and expect, while prioritizing the safety of our campus community. This week, the president of the University of Minnesota System, Joan Gabel, outlined the University’s plans for fall semester. I want to share UMD’s roadmap for welcoming you to campus.
Please know, the University continues to monitor the COVID-19 pandemic. We invite you to campus this fall in accordance with public health guidelines and with the following in mind:
- The University as a whole is doing everything it can to prevent the spread of COVID-19 among our University community.
- We all have an important role to play: being honest about our own health and keeping others around us safe.
All areas of UMD are engaged in planning a fall semester that can adapt as needed while supporting your successful transition to UMD. Any changes to your schedule and classes will be communicated in your MyU account on or before August 1. We will start our fall semester as scheduled with classes beginning August 31.
I can assure you that all adjustments prioritize the well-being of our community members and are made in consultation with public health guidance. Please visit the UMD Coronavirus website for more information about this plan.
We will keep you informed as fall planning continues. In the meantime, I encourage you to remain committed to your educational, career, and personal goals. We look forward to welcoming you to campus this August and to supporting your success every step of the way. At this time, we hope to have a full spring 2021 semester, but we have to continue to be flexible as public health conditions evolve.
In addition to dealing with and adjusting to COVID-19, the pain, frustration, and fear created by the killing of George Floyd continues to disturb me and our UMD community. As I work to take meaningful action, I am listening to your concerns and thoughtfully considering the many suggestions and requests that have come to me over the past few weeks. In addition, I am working with UMD administrators, faculty, staff, and student leadership to develop specific action plans to move our critical work in equity, diversity, inclusiveness, and social justice to new levels, to address structural racism, and to demand accountability from units and departments on addressing equity and inclusion. We will continue to work with students and partners to ensure equitable access to technology on and off campus.
Best wishes and I look forward to seeing you in the fall.
Sincerely,
Lendley C. Black
Chancellor
Monday, June 8, 2020
Fall Semester Instructional Recommendations
Dear Colleagues,
We want to thank you for your exceptional effort in pivoting this past spring to alternative modes of work and engagement with our students. We know that for many of you, this summer is unlike past summers and not what we had planned. Above all, we hope you, your family, and those close to you are healthy, well, and safe during these extraordinarily challenging times.
Our goal with this message is to follow up on President Gabel’s message of earlier today, to offer some advance notice on our thinking for Fall 2020 and offer resources that will ensure that we can be more planful in our development and delivery of instruction. In consultation with the Minnesota Department of Health, guidance from our own public health experts, and with input from the university community received via an online survey, the Fall Scenarios Advisory Team is recommending to the President and the Board of Regents a plan for residential instruction this Fall.
You will be able to see a more complete description of that recommendation in the Board’s docket materials, including a summary of implications for housing and dining, outreach and engagement, and other domains.
In the educational space, that recommendation includes:
We want to thank you for your exceptional effort in pivoting this past spring to alternative modes of work and engagement with our students. We know that for many of you, this summer is unlike past summers and not what we had planned. Above all, we hope you, your family, and those close to you are healthy, well, and safe during these extraordinarily challenging times.
Our goal with this message is to follow up on President Gabel’s message of earlier today, to offer some advance notice on our thinking for Fall 2020 and offer resources that will ensure that we can be more planful in our development and delivery of instruction. In consultation with the Minnesota Department of Health, guidance from our own public health experts, and with input from the university community received via an online survey, the Fall Scenarios Advisory Team is recommending to the President and the Board of Regents a plan for residential instruction this Fall.
You will be able to see a more complete description of that recommendation in the Board’s docket materials, including a summary of implications for housing and dining, outreach and engagement, and other domains.
In the educational space, that recommendation includes:
- Physical distancing in classrooms, which will reduce capacity and availability.
- An enhanced classroom cleaning schedule, which may further reduce availability.
- Extended classroom hours (8am - 10pm), and on some campuses possibly increased Saturday classes.
- Use of masks and other barriers (e.g. plexiglass), in a manner consistent with public health guidance at the time.
As always, our final implementation will be subject to Board of Regents approval.
As we look toward the fall we are urging our faculty and instructors to consider the learning outcomes of their course, and identify what they feel must be delivered in-person and what can be delivered remotely. We will also look to flexibility with policies that would allow instructors to elect or switch to alternative modes of delivery as they see fit. We encourage them to explore creative alternative and hybrid strategies, and remind all that accommodations may be necessary if students, faculty, or staff need to be isolated/quarantined or if public health guidance requires another pivot.
We are further considering possible changes to the Fall academic calendar. Our goal is to reduce the travel of students between campus and their family homes. While this may look different on each system campus, at UMD this could involve a normal start with in-person instruction concluding before Thanksgiving break, staying with the traditional calendar and planning to deliver the last three weeks of the semester via a distanced modality, or ending the period of in-person instruction early but “intensifying” contact hours each week. This would also likely necessitate eliminating the fall break.
We understand that academic calendar governance, contract dates, and other HR changes will need to be considered in evaluating and implementing these scenarios. If needed, these processes will begin after the Board of Regents’ meeting next week.
We are taking one step at a time and at this time we do not have all of the answers to how this will affect units that offer student services and co-curricular activities. There are related questions about what this means for staff returning to campus to work. Please remember that those employees who are able to work from home, should continue to do so at this time. The systemwide Sunrise Plan will continue to evolve and we anticipate that the answers to return to work questions will be answered through that process. We have asked our unit leaders to work with their teams in developing scenarios to help us plan and prepare as we learn more.
The public health situation continues to evolve, and we may need to pivot from or refine this plan, either before the semester begins or possibly in the middle of the semester if an outbreak occurs. Thank you in advance for your flexibility and resilience, as we together seek to deliver on our academic mission while enhancing safety and health.
Sincerely,
Fernando Delgado
Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs
Lisa Erwin
Vice Chancellor for Student Life and Dean of Students
Sue Bosell
Interim Vice Chancellor for Finance and Operations
As we look toward the fall we are urging our faculty and instructors to consider the learning outcomes of their course, and identify what they feel must be delivered in-person and what can be delivered remotely. We will also look to flexibility with policies that would allow instructors to elect or switch to alternative modes of delivery as they see fit. We encourage them to explore creative alternative and hybrid strategies, and remind all that accommodations may be necessary if students, faculty, or staff need to be isolated/quarantined or if public health guidance requires another pivot.
We are further considering possible changes to the Fall academic calendar. Our goal is to reduce the travel of students between campus and their family homes. While this may look different on each system campus, at UMD this could involve a normal start with in-person instruction concluding before Thanksgiving break, staying with the traditional calendar and planning to deliver the last three weeks of the semester via a distanced modality, or ending the period of in-person instruction early but “intensifying” contact hours each week. This would also likely necessitate eliminating the fall break.
We understand that academic calendar governance, contract dates, and other HR changes will need to be considered in evaluating and implementing these scenarios. If needed, these processes will begin after the Board of Regents’ meeting next week.
We are taking one step at a time and at this time we do not have all of the answers to how this will affect units that offer student services and co-curricular activities. There are related questions about what this means for staff returning to campus to work. Please remember that those employees who are able to work from home, should continue to do so at this time. The systemwide Sunrise Plan will continue to evolve and we anticipate that the answers to return to work questions will be answered through that process. We have asked our unit leaders to work with their teams in developing scenarios to help us plan and prepare as we learn more.
The public health situation continues to evolve, and we may need to pivot from or refine this plan, either before the semester begins or possibly in the middle of the semester if an outbreak occurs. Thank you in advance for your flexibility and resilience, as we together seek to deliver on our academic mission while enhancing safety and health.
Sincerely,
Fernando Delgado
Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs
Lisa Erwin
Vice Chancellor for Student Life and Dean of Students
Sue Bosell
Interim Vice Chancellor for Finance and Operations
Thursday, June 4, 2020
Campus closing at noon in honor of George Floyd’s memorial
Dear UMD Colleagues,
You have likely seen President Gabel's message from yesterday calling for a systemwide closure of campus at noon on Thursday, June 4. Thursday marks a somber event in the history of Minnesota and with George Floyd's memorial we reach the next chapter of a sad and unfolding story. Many of our colleagues, students, and alumni in Duluth, the Twin Cities, and elsewhere have been deeply and personally impacted by the events of the past week. Chancellor Black, the vice chancellors, and I certainly welcome both President Gabel's prudence and calls for reflection.
The UMD campus, including virtual operations, will close at noon today. Normal operations will resume Friday, June 5 at 5:30 a.m. Like a weather closure, most employees will not be working after the University closes at noon today, with the exception for essential employees. Those UMD employees currently designated as essential under the COVID-19 reduced operations procedures may stay on campus but I am encouraging you, if you can work from home and with supervisor approval, to do so and leave campus at noon.
This is an important time in our history and we have much work left to do. To quote Ron Harris, Chief Resilience Officer for the City of Minneapolis (and UMD alumnus): "We don’t need episodic displays of compassion. We need lifelong commitments to anti-racism."
Thank you,
Fernando Delgado
Executive Vice Chancellor
You have likely seen President Gabel's message from yesterday calling for a systemwide closure of campus at noon on Thursday, June 4. Thursday marks a somber event in the history of Minnesota and with George Floyd's memorial we reach the next chapter of a sad and unfolding story. Many of our colleagues, students, and alumni in Duluth, the Twin Cities, and elsewhere have been deeply and personally impacted by the events of the past week. Chancellor Black, the vice chancellors, and I certainly welcome both President Gabel's prudence and calls for reflection.
The UMD campus, including virtual operations, will close at noon today. Normal operations will resume Friday, June 5 at 5:30 a.m. Like a weather closure, most employees will not be working after the University closes at noon today, with the exception for essential employees. Those UMD employees currently designated as essential under the COVID-19 reduced operations procedures may stay on campus but I am encouraging you, if you can work from home and with supervisor approval, to do so and leave campus at noon.
This is an important time in our history and we have much work left to do. To quote Ron Harris, Chief Resilience Officer for the City of Minneapolis (and UMD alumnus): "We don’t need episodic displays of compassion. We need lifelong commitments to anti-racism."
Thank you,
Fernando Delgado
Executive Vice Chancellor
Monday, June 1, 2020
Message from Chancellor Black
Dear UMD Campus Community,
Saturday mornings for me are usually devoted to reading the New York Times and having an extra cup of tea. But this morning, I could not stop watching the national news and the constant report of the destruction and pain caused by the murder of Mr. George Floyd. I take some solace, but little comfort, that at least one of the persons responsible for this tragedy has been charged with murder. I can only imagine the pain that Mr. Floyd’s family and friends must be experiencing. I also hope those protesting maintain an ethic of civil disobedience and promote that perspective amongst those others who feel compelled to come to the streets to voice their frustration. I further hope that our state and local leaders support our public safety professionals and Minnesota National Guard and guide them through humane and effective actions to safeguard our citizens and communities.
President Gabel said to us yesterday, “I feel heartache for the loss of George Floyd and anguish for those who mourn him. We must continue to demand justice and support those who will accept nothing less.” I agree completely with the President, and will offer whatever assistance UMD can provide to support our university community and the greater Twin Ports area, as we continue to deal with the aftermath of what happened to Mr. Floyd and the impact on our Twin Cities families and friends. Our UMD Police Department has already offered assistance to the Twin Cities campus and is actively working with our Twin Ports public safety officials to assist in whatever ways they can. So many of our students come from the Twin Cities, and several of them live close to the areas of violence. My heart goes out to them and to all those in pain because of the senseless actions of those responsible for Mr. Floyd’s death.
What I watched this morning was tragic and brought back nightmarish images of television reports in the late 1960s, as riots occurred throughout our nation including my hometown of Memphis, Tennessee. At that time, we young people vowed to take action and create a better nation that fully respects all individuals and especially those who are disadvantaged and in need. It hurts to see how much we failed our nation and ourselves, as racism, violence, and abuse continue to swirl around us.
Please be safe from those who might do you harm, and lean on those who genuinely care about you and who are committed to strengthening the connections in our communities, even while some work to tear us apart.
Peace and comfort for you all,
Lynn Black
Chancellor
Saturday mornings for me are usually devoted to reading the New York Times and having an extra cup of tea. But this morning, I could not stop watching the national news and the constant report of the destruction and pain caused by the murder of Mr. George Floyd. I take some solace, but little comfort, that at least one of the persons responsible for this tragedy has been charged with murder. I can only imagine the pain that Mr. Floyd’s family and friends must be experiencing. I also hope those protesting maintain an ethic of civil disobedience and promote that perspective amongst those others who feel compelled to come to the streets to voice their frustration. I further hope that our state and local leaders support our public safety professionals and Minnesota National Guard and guide them through humane and effective actions to safeguard our citizens and communities.
President Gabel said to us yesterday, “I feel heartache for the loss of George Floyd and anguish for those who mourn him. We must continue to demand justice and support those who will accept nothing less.” I agree completely with the President, and will offer whatever assistance UMD can provide to support our university community and the greater Twin Ports area, as we continue to deal with the aftermath of what happened to Mr. Floyd and the impact on our Twin Cities families and friends. Our UMD Police Department has already offered assistance to the Twin Cities campus and is actively working with our Twin Ports public safety officials to assist in whatever ways they can. So many of our students come from the Twin Cities, and several of them live close to the areas of violence. My heart goes out to them and to all those in pain because of the senseless actions of those responsible for Mr. Floyd’s death.
What I watched this morning was tragic and brought back nightmarish images of television reports in the late 1960s, as riots occurred throughout our nation including my hometown of Memphis, Tennessee. At that time, we young people vowed to take action and create a better nation that fully respects all individuals and especially those who are disadvantaged and in need. It hurts to see how much we failed our nation and ourselves, as racism, violence, and abuse continue to swirl around us.
Please be safe from those who might do you harm, and lean on those who genuinely care about you and who are committed to strengthening the connections in our communities, even while some work to tear us apart.
Peace and comfort for you all,
Lynn Black
Chancellor
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)