Statement in Support of Black Lives

Dear Students of the College of Natural Resources and Sciences,

It is hard to find words to fully express the sadness we feel at the brutality and anti-Black racism so horrifically demonstrated in recent weeks, the latest episode in a centuries-old history of racial violence in our country. We grieve with many of our students, their families, and their communities who are suffering, and who continually give of themselves in the fight for justice. We reach out to you today, the students in the College of Natural Resources and Sciences, to affirm our care for, and support of you during these difficult times.

Many of us took part in the 1-day strike, #ShutDownSTEM, on June 10, 2020, to educate ourselves and to define actions that help eradicate anti-Black racism in academia and in our STEM disciplines. We acknowledge that students of color in STEM fields, including in our own programs, have experienced bias and racism which have harmful consequences. We seek to be an anti-racist and welcoming community for STEM learning, grounded in equity, justice, peace, and respect, to remove all barriers or bias limiting student success, and to elevate all who seek to improve the human condition through mutual respect, scientific inquiry and environmental stewardship.

In solidarity,

The faculty and staff of the College of Natural Resources and Sciences