Statement from Dean Boor about #ShutDownSTEM on June 10, 2020

As we continue to grapple with our sadness and outrage over the recent killings of members of Black communities in America and other acts of racially motivated violence, our academic community is responding by pausing our activities for a day of reflection and community discussion.
 
Tomorrow, CALS is encouraging members of our college to take time out from regular academic activities and spend some or all of the day thinking and talking about our individual and institutional experiences and responses to systemic racism and bias.
 
To encourage and guide honest and thoughtful dialogue, CALS’ Office for Diversity and Inclusion has posted a collection of resources focused on diversity and inclusion. The university also has a list of resources for engaging in conversations about race and anti-racism.
 
CALS administrative units, departments, graduate fields, student associations and labs are encouraged to use these resources to plan facilitated discussions with peers and colleagues to reflect on how race and bias impact their daily activities. While participation is voluntary, I encourage everyone to take advantage of this opportunity to reflect on – and devise actions to strengthen – our commitment to equity and social justice. Recognizing that it might not be easy to disrupt activities on short notice, please contact your supervisor to discuss how you can be involved.
 
In full support of the cause, CALS leadership will use the day to meet and develop a plan of action outlining steps for the college to take to support diversity and inclusion. If your unit has developed ideas that can be realized at the college level, please contact the CALS Office for Diversity and Inclusion at CALS_ODI [at] cornell.edu (CALS_ODI[at]cornell[dot]edu) to discuss how to incorporate your ideas into our action plan.
 
In the face of painful truths, thoughtful reflection is critical to reveal individual and collective responsibilities. Please consider how you may use this time tomorrow to support positive change.