We, the Indigenous students, faculty, staff, and allies grieve alongside the Indigenous peoples who have suffered at the hands of governmental forced assimilation schemes.

To help viewers consider the factors and implications surrounding the May 2020 killing of George Floyd — and the subsequent trial of police officer Derek Chauvin in spring 2021 ­– the College of Arts and Sciences has organized a virtual teach-in.

After reviewing the campus climate survey (https://diversity.syr.edu/pulse-survey/) released a few weeks ago, I want to highlight six things that were confirmed (and what historically underrepresented students, staff, and faculty have already known)...

On November 3, 2020, I commemorated Election Day by wearing a shirt that listed these names: Ida [B. Wells], Maya [Angelou], Fannie Lou [Hammer], Harriet [Tubman], and Sojourner [Truth]. I wanted to honor the legacy that Black women have had in Black liberation and in demanding justice and accountability of the U.S. in the face of its democratic ideals.

This is the first of what I hope will be periodic updates on our plan and actions to expand equity and inclusion, underway at A&S since 2017.