April 20, 2021
Dear Students, Faculty and Staff,
Today, a jury found former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin guilty of second-degree murder and other charges in the May 25 killing of George Floyd. As a campus community, we hope this verdict brings some measure of justice to Mr. Floyd’s family, knowing that this decision alone will not redress the inequities that Black, Asian American and other communities of color have experienced for generations.
During recent police shootings, 13-year-old Adam Toledo was killed on March 29 and 20-year-old Daunte Wright was killed on April 11. Elsewhere, communities continue to grieve the deaths of so many others, including Elijah McClain and Breonna Taylor. In addition to these tragedies, mass shootings continue to plague communities across the country, including in Georgia, Indiana, South Carolina, California, New York––and here in Colorado.
Traumatic events like these can affect us in different ways and at different times. As a university community, we may want to discuss how we feel with others, to share ideas and propose solutions, and to show our support for each other––especially when we are directly impacted by violence against our communities of color.
In the coming weeks, I encourage you to connect with one another and to support one another, including during in-person and virtual group discussions and workshops sponsored by the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL), the Center for Inclusion and Social Change (CISC), CU Boulder Health and Wellness Services and other campus units.
Tomorrow, faculty and staff can join CTL’s Inclusive Community of Practice meeting, led by Kate Ellsworth, director of education initiatives for the Center for Resilience and Well-Being in Schools in the Institute of Behavioral Science, to discuss how to support students. CTL is also offering tips and resources for faculty who want to support communication in classrooms and support their students through the end of the semester.
Students, faculty and staff can reach out to staff at the Center for Inclusion and Social Change (CISC) for individual or group virtual consultations to process what they are experiencing. More opportunities to connect with each other will be available over the coming weeks.
This year has taken courage. Perhaps we shared our own painful experiences or deeply listened to how tragedy, racism and discrimination have impacted a friend, a colleague or a classmate. We know that the power of our community is built on these experiences, where we learn from each other, value the inherent worth and dignity of each person, and continue to stand firmly against injustice and inequity on our campus and beyond.
Sincerely,
Phil