I hope you have seen President Martha Pollack’s statement released on Friday about the recent killings of Black community members in America. I join President Pollack in expressing sadness and outrage over the killing of George Floyd and far too many other people of color in recent months and years.
It is especially distressing to see such violence during a global health crisis that has both reinforced the importance of community support and revealed the inequitable impacts of the pandemic on communities of color.
At Cornell CALS, we believe in our potential as Cornellians to leave the world better than we found it. This commitment – this responsibility – is especially important to remember in the face of violence against fellow citizens being targeted because of race, background or perspective. We must push for ways to inspire and facilitate honest, thoughtful dialogue around diversity and inclusion and to address the painful challenges we are facing as a nation. We must model ways to address forms of bias and treatment based on color. The solutions are not simple – and change may come more slowly than we would like – but, as President Pollack stated, we cannot stand silent.
If you are experiencing trauma and are in need of support, or if you want to learn more about marginalized identities and understand how to be an ally, I encourage you to access the following resources:
- Report an incident of bias, discrimination or harassment.
- Listen to the Inclusive Excellence Podcast features topics related to diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
- Participate in the June 15 workshop for instructors called Let’s Get Real: Invisible Equity Issues in Remote Teaching.
- Access the Cornell Faculty and Staff Assistance Program at fsap [at] cornell.edu (fsap[at]cornell[dot]edu) or by calling 255-2673.
- Access ENI Confidential Counseling Services for Cornell faculty, staff and family members by calling 1-800-327-2255.
Please take good care and consider ways to support one another during this difficult time.
