{"id":1622,"date":"2020-07-15T16:06:22","date_gmt":"2020-07-15T21:06:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.truman.edu\/presoffice\/?p=1622"},"modified":"2020-07-15T16:49:42","modified_gmt":"2020-07-15T21:49:42","slug":"statement-of-commitment-to-racial-equity-and-institutional-change","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.truman.edu\/presoffice\/2020\/07\/15\/statement-of-commitment-to-racial-equity-and-institutional-change\/","title":{"rendered":"Statement of Commitment to Racial Equity and Institutional Change"},"content":{"rendered":"

Statement of Commitment to Racial Equity and Institutional Change<\/strong><\/p>\n

To examine structural and systemic racism, Truman recently conducted a town hall on racial injustice and inequity to provide an opportunity to gain a shared understanding of what must be done to accomplish institutional change. When asked what Truman should do immediately, members of the panel advocated for the importance of making a public statement.<\/p>\n

In the wake of the murder of George Floyd, an email was sent to all students, faculty and staff challenging the University to confront the racial injustice and inequity legacies of the past, acknowledge the realities of the present and do real work to achieve an equitable future. It was a call to action in line with rapper and activist Killer Mike\u2019s call to \u201cfortify your own house so that you may be a house of refuge in times of organization.\u201d It is clear that part of fortifying our own house is a collective public statement that was informed by the insights from the town hall:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

At Truman, we embrace the power of community, value the diversity of perspectives, and espouse the importance of\u00a0facing challenges\u00a0and being uncomfortable as a part of growth.\u00a0 Racism, in all forms, is antithetical to community.\u00a0 With inequities, there are divisions, and these divisions prevent us from being the just, inclusive, equitable, and true community we want and need to be. <\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

We acknowledge the fear, pain, prejudice, antagonism and subjugation that is ubiquitous <\/em>in the Black experience and the historical legacy of segregation, marginalization, and inequitable access to economic opportunity, social mobility, and political power in all higher education institutions, including Truman.<\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

The best way to condemn racism is to be anti-racist.\u00a0 We will actively and consciously work against the multidimensional aspects of racism.\u00a0 We will challenge the notion that racism is only conscious, deliberate, and explicit and shift our understanding to address unconscious, unintentional, and veiled racist actions.<\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

It is our responsibility to uncover and disrupt systems that perpetuate injustice and inequity, and in doing so, reform all aspects of those systems that are anathema to the principles of racial equity including policies, pedagogy, and practices.<\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Real change will require collective, concerted, unrelenting efforts over an extended period of time.\u00a0 Our progress in achieving a just, inclusive, equitable, and true community will require personal and institutional self-reflection, humility, honesty and fully embracing the universal intrinsic worth of all human beings.\u00a0 <\/em><\/p>\n

As important as these words are, words without action are performative allyship that do little to address the true matter at hand. As a liberal arts and sciences institution, it is in Truman\u2019s core to be a force for change in the world.\u00a0 To that end, the University is focusing on six core areas: \u00a0access and recruitment; student success, retention and integration; recruitment, hiring and development of employees;\u00a0campus culture; curricular and co-curricular learning; and alumni community.\u00a0 The University has begun taking the first of many steps to make impactful and sustained progress in these six areas:<\/p>\n