The Office of Student Diversity and Inclusion recognizes the severity of this moment in time. Like so many countless others before, the tragic and horrific deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery have shown us that those with hatred in their hearts will always attempt to justify their actions by hiding behind a wall of systemic racism and injustice.

I hope you saw the statement from BSC President Daniel Coleman on BSC’s blog, website, and social media platforms June 1 and 2. You can find the statement here. 

I cannot begin to provide adequate words for how this has impacted me personally and the emotions I have felt while watching the news. Constantly checking in on the safety of my young sister in another state. The weight of grief I’ve felt hearing stories of family having ‘the talk’ with their grade school children about racism and their safety is simply heart wrenching. And talking to friends who have reached out to me about sending their brilliant black sons and daughters back to college brings me back to the faces and images of so many of you who I have had the honor over the last year to get to know.

The wall meant to separate us as people, built by bigotry, greed, privilege, power, and control has been allowed to stand for far too long. Its injustice has caused the degradation and grief of far too many families, far too many mothers, fathers, siblings and children. And why? Because of fear, silence, and indifference to change.

So, what can we do, you ask? We can start by looking inward at our own hearts. We can acknowledge who and what has influenced us. Perhaps we need to take a look at our very foundation, our roots, our way of being in the world. Maybe we need to ask, what is the basis for how we think, feel, act or even choose not to. And if we notice even the smallest of cracks or fragments in our foundation regarding issues of race, equity, inclusion, or social justice, we need to challenge our own process and think differently.

Over the next few weeks and months, I challenge you to learn from another person’s story while engaging your own. Prior to COVID-19 and us leaving BSC’s campus in mid-March, the Office of Student Diversity and Inclusion took part in the 30-Day Racial Equity and Social Justice Challenge by partnering with the YWCA (http://www.ywcabham.org/21-day-challenge). Some of you who took part recognize that we never got the opportunity to complete this challenge with our final discussion that was to take place on March 31. While it was my intent to recreate this and other opportunities in the fall, I now feel that we have an opportunity here, and I want to offer you a number of options to continue this process.

Below, please find links to various resources you may choose to engage:
An Antiracist Reading List
Your Black Colleagues May Look Like They’re Okay — Chances Are They’re Not
Cultures Connecting Library of Resources 
Be the Bridge 
Roadmap to Reconciliation
Robin DiAngelo, PhD Critical Racial and Social Justice Education

Upon return to campus, you will notice periodic pop-up discussions to engage this material. In addition, throughout the summer the Office of Student Diversity and Inclusion will be engaging student leaders in discussions through the Sustained Dialogue Campus Network (https://sustaineddialogue.org/), as well as another discussion group called “A Seat at the Table: Discussions on Race, Equity and Inclusion.” These and other similar discussions will also continue in the fall. In the meantime, know that additional campus resources continue to be available to you as students, faculty and staff.

Counseling services: Cara Blakes ([email protected]) or Marlena Stowe ([email protected]);
Assistant Director of Residence Life Brandon Brown ([email protected]);
Director of Student Diversity and Inclusion, Dr. Kristie Williams ([email protected])

For BSC employees, the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is available at (800) 316-2796 or  www.mutualofomaha.com/eap.

Kristie Williams, Ph.D.

Director of Student Diversity and Inclusion