I grieve with the family of George Floyd and others who have lost their lives and live in fear because of racial injustices that have plagued our country for centuries. Over these past few weeks, I experienced a heightened awareness of inequities and racial divide, sadness for the pain and hopelessness of our brothers and sisters, and a determination to advance toward a new future, defined by our inherent values.
At Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, we are called to stand for others and to strive for learning that puts faith into action. In a world where the pursuit of safety and well-being are central, we foster a commitment to social justice and confrontation of discrimination and ultimately uphold human dignity for all. We welcome all voices and perspectives to provide rich educational experiences for our students and to prepare them for equitable and ethical interactions.
The protests will end. The looting will stop. The media will move on. For some, it will be easy to go back to their normal routines. However, I believe the College will be forever changed by what we have heard and witnessed. One of our themes this year is from our mission statement, “to effect positive change.” This resonates with me now more than ever.
This is the time to impact the future.
With great intentionality, we are working to address racial inequality and social justice directly in our academic programs and co-curricular activities in ways that affirm our goals and values and sustains us. Our work will be centered on preparing students to interact effectively with each other, preparing them to engage as active citizens in an increasingly complex, multicultural and pluralistic society. We are focused on human commonalities and building capacity that engages the contributions and honors the value of all people. The most effective change begins with reflection and introspection. As daughters and sons of The Woods, I pray you join me in listening with your head and your heart as we come together to seek understanding and compassion.