University taking action against racism and inequity
September 16, 2020
The troubling and inhumane arrest, restraint, and death of Daniel Prude has had a profound impact on the country and the City of Rochester. Immediately after video of Mr. Prude’s death was released, President Mangelsdorf wrote to the campus community to convey her feelings of anger and sadness, and to redouble the University’s commitment to action in eradicating systemic racism. As she said in her Inaugural Address the fates of the city and the University are inextricably linked, and the University is taking steps to address the systemic inequities that have affected not only our city, but also the nation.
In recent months, University leaders have declared racism a public health crisis and acknowledged that past efforts to fight racism at the institution have fallen short. To ensure the institution is a safe, welcoming and respectful place where everyone can study, work, and learn, Vice President for Equity and Inclusion Mercedes Ramírez Fernández is collaborating with senior leaders across the University to develop an Anti-Racism Action Plan that asks every school dean and unit administrative leader to set specific diversity goals and to use a consistent set of metrics that will allow us to measure progress.
Ramírez Fernández and the Office of Equity and Inclusion are also working with student groups, including leaders from the Douglass Leadership House, the Minority Student Association, and the Students’ Association to create more equitable, diverse, and inclusive experiences on our campuses and across our academic enterprise. Some of that work includes the formation of a new Student Advisory Board that will help shape and influence diversity efforts at the University.
The Office of Equity and Inclusion is also engaging the Rochester community through the newly formed Committee on Community Engagement for Racial Justice (CERJ). Local leaders are joining University faculty, staff, and students to work on real solutions to longstanding social, economic, and educational issues. The committee’s efforts include a network of community organizations, faculty, and staff to address dangerous gaps in childcare as more parents and guardians return to work, both physically and remotely, after the mandatory shutdown.
As alumni, you can support these initiatives through the new, Together for Rochester one-year campaign. The new campaign will help provide funding for diverse faculty recruiting and retention, hiring recent graduates, mentoring current students and alumni, and raising funds for additional scholarships to support the University’s goals.
Even when facing the COVID-19 pandemic, University leaders have maintained a strategic focus on making the University of Rochester an anti-racist institution. This critical work continues every day across our campuses and in the city. To stay up to date on University news, and to learn about our progress as it happens, be sure to follow us on social media.