May. 16, 2022
Response to the Tragic Incidents This Weekend
Dear University Community,
Over the weekend, we saw another round of senseless murders by individuals who appear to have been motivated by racism and hatred. Starting with Buffalo, and then Houston and Los Angeles, individuals who espouse hateful rhetoric and had easy access to weapons took the lives of innocent Americans, apparently because of their cultures, their histories, and the color of their skin.
Central Washington University condemns these hateful actions that threaten our Black community and other BIPOC constituencies. These violent acts have a significant impact on the health and wellness of our BIPOC students, faculty, and staff, magnifying their sense of feeling unsafe and not included by others in society. As a community, we need to speak up against this violence and work toward a future of justice for marginalized people.
On Friday, we will ask our Board of Trustees to provide us with feedback on the new vision statement we have developed: “to be a model learning community of equity and belonging.” But words on a page are not enough. We must work to engage every member of our community and encourage them to listen and learn from others, to stand up and take action against racism, and to support our marginalized community members.
These are trying times. If you need support, please contact any of the following offices:
Mental Health Counseling Center
We must lead the way as a university in proactively creating a safer, more just place for all members of our community—especially our historically underrepresented groups. Until everyone feels like they belong for being the person they are, and the person who they are becoming, we have work to do—work that must be at the forefront of our collective endeavors.
Sincerely,
Kandee Cleary
Vice President of Inclusivity and Diversity
Michelle DenBeste
Provost and Vice President for Academic and Student Life
Jim Wohlpart
President