From the Desk of the President—Addressing Racial Injustice

Jun 5, 2020

Dear Siena Community,

Before I begin with the information that I will share here, I want to acknowledge the harsh realities and pain many of us are experiencing, especially our sisters and brothers of color. As a woman with white privilege, I do not have the lived experience of racism that many of you do. But, I do want you to know that all of you who are experiencing deep anguish matter to me and matter to our community.

On Monday evening, I sent a letter to the Siena community. Many have reached out to me, president-elect Dr. Gibson, and to the College on social media expressing a desire for action and change for racial justice at Siena. I am inspired by your longing for justice and proud that you are using your voices to stand up for what is right. While real systemic change will require a sustained effort and coordination among many people at the College, there is an urgency to act now and I want you to know that we are doing that.

Yesterday, in a Zoom Town Hall with over 300 faculty and staff, we held silent for 8 minutes and 46 seconds. We listened to the silence to honor George Floyd’s life and legacy, and to acknowledge that his death was yet another travesty in a long line of such horrors. Let me be clear: Black Lives Matter. On Monday at 4:30 p.m., the friars will lead a prayer service for peace, justice and humility. It will stream live on the College’s Facebook page. Fr. Mark Reamer, O.F.M. will share more details in this weekend’s Daily Digests.

Today, I would like to share some resources that will help us all to listen and learn. This list is certainly not exhaustive, but is representative of ideas put forth by so many of you who have reached out. This is simply a starting point as we work to support the most vulnerable members of our community with integrity and compassion.

Our Franciscan tradition calls us to justice and peace. I encourage all members of our community to begin the work of justice by reading, dialoguing and compassionately engaging in the world as Saints. We will of course be continuing this important conversation on race, and as always, the College welcomes your thoughts and input.

In solidarity,

Maggie

Read

Articles

The 1619 Project, The New York Times Magazine

“Who Gets to Be Afraid in America?” , Dr. Ibram X. Kendi, The Atlantic (May 12, 2020)

Books

How To Be An Antiracist, Dr. Ibram X. Kendi

So You Want to Talk About Race, Ijeoma Oluo

The Bluest Eye, Toni Morrison

The Fire Next Time, James Baldwin

The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness, Michelle Alexander