Message from the Office of the President: Working toward profound and sustainable change

Dear students, faculty, and staff,

One year ago today, our community and the world inherently changed after a fatal act of callous indifference took the life of George Floyd. The ensuing combination of anger and sadness, advocacy and action, shared in by countless millions have sustained and inspired us to reflect more about what it means to feel safe, respected, and included. We grieve with his family, friends, and those who knew him. And for those in our community who continue to suffer or seek to understand more deeply, please don’t hesitate to use the resources the University has for you.

As universities, we are expected to have a conscience and a soul to steward our mission every day. We have channeled our individual efforts and collective expectation through our new systemwide strategic plan, MPact 2025, and its transparent commitment to advancing a community and culture where a sense of belonging is strong, accessibility is valued, and equity and diversity are promoted. Much of this work is centered around representation, climate, and partnership, but there is no question that George Floyd’s murder accelerated these and other efforts to promote stronger pathways to early and higher education, equal access to healthcare, new public safety approaches, criminal justice reform, and fair housing, amongst others. We hold ourselves accountable and will share a more collective overview of these efforts early this summer.

But today, as we reflect, let us recognize that our shared efforts are just a start. There is more to do. Let us commit to never forgetting what happened at the corner of 38th and Chicago, as we rely on our conscience and soul to create a more equitable and just community.

With warmest regards,
Joan Gabel