Honoring George Floyd by listening, learning and acting

Dear CFANS community,

When George Floyd died at the hands of police two weeks ago, it felt like a wake up call for our campus, our state, the country and the world. But the truth is, police brutality and racism has long been prevalent for our black colleagues, students and friends.

We are heartbroken and ashamed, and have a responsibility to stand with the black, indigenous and people of color (BIPoC) who teach, learn and work in CFANS, which means we must listen. This is an opportunity for us as allies to examine our privilege, lean into discomfort and take thoughtful action only after deep listening.  

While the work required of us will be ongoing and long term, we can do some things to address the pain, hurt and anger of our community more immediately. We will be hosting a Dean’s Dialogue event for faculty and staff on June 15 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., and I urge you to attend as a starting point on this journey. The discussion will be around disrupting the cycle of racism. Please register in advance through this form by Friday at 10 a.m. Registrants will receive a reminder confirmation email with the Zoom link and password. Please know that we plan to host similar discussions for students in the coming weeks. 

Our Director of Diversity and Inclusion Jody Gray and I have also been in conversation these past weeks to identify ways CFANS can provide more support to the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, but these discussions alone are not the solution. They are just part of the work and change that needs to happen. 

I also want to acknowledge that I greatly appreciate the number of comments, requests, and criticisms shared with me during this time. Because of your willingness to share your thoughts and experiences, I am more informed than ever about the challenges our college faces. I hear the pain and the anguish, and I plan to seek guidance directly from communities as we move forward. We can and will do better. 

Because of the courageous and authentic leadership of President Gabel, I feel the strength of the university behind us as we work to build a more equitable CFANS. I know I can count on all of you to join me. 
 
In solidarity, 
Brian Buhr 
Dean, College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences
Director, Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station
Professor, Department of Applied Economics