UW-Madison administrators have released statements of support for those who feel affected by the grand jury verdicts in Ferguson and Staten Island and are calling for a broader conversation about race relations and inclusion on campus.
Chancellor Rebecca Blank
It is easy for some of us to think briefly about these incidents and move on. That is not the case for others on this campus, who encounter subtle and less subtle examples of intolerance on a regular basis. I am proud of those students, faculty and staff who have spoken out about their concerns, continuing UW’s long tradition of activism. They have done so with civility and respect, even when confronted with inappropriate and hurtful responses. Read Chancellor Blank’s full statement.
Vice Provost and Chief Diversity Officer Patrick Sims
Names and places that weren’t significant to most of us a year ago – Ferguson and Michael Brown, Staten Island and Eric Garner, Cleveland and Tamir Rice – are now part of a shared vocabulary that elicits sadness, anger, fear and an unsettling sense of injustice and misunderstanding peppered with the terms unarmed, chokehold, 12-year-old, toy gun and excessive force. It doesn’t matter what ‘side’ or position anyone takes on these topics and issues – there’s no winning on our current path as a nation. Read Sims’s full statement.
Dean of Students Lori Berquam
To our students of color, I want you to know that you belong here and you are valued scholars and important members of our community. These issues affect us all. Numerous opportunities to engage, learn, and support are being offered and I ask that you join them. Reach out beyond your friend group for this discussion. I know we can do that here. A college campus is nothing if it does not welcome this exchange. Read Berquam’s full statement.