University Libraries Statement Against Systemic Racism and Social Injustice
June 9, 2020
We know that our students, staff, faculty, and community are hurting right now. We are hurting with you and with those who have suffered and are suffering from the discrimination, bias, and brutality that are deeply woven into the fabric of our country. We mourn the lives of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and countless others, including those locally, whose lives were stolen by systemic racism at work in our country.
University Libraries echoes Chancellor Gilliam in condemning racism and violence. We condemn police brutality and other forms of social and state-sanctioned racist violence, surveillance, and terror. The pervasive discrimination present in our nation against the Black community denies its residents equal rights, equal protection, and equal access; furthermore, it weakens our institutions and destroys our communities. The long-standing, generational pain and suffering of our students, staff, faculty, colleagues, and friends can no longer be ignored. We have a responsibility to disavow racism, and we hold ourselves accountable to work towards dismantling these systems.
We are committed to our mission: "To foster the success and impact of the community by promoting learning, inspiring and enhancing research, and collaboration in a diverse and innovative environment." Diversity, equity, and inclusion are part of our value proposition and key commitments to all. For this reason, University Libraries calls upon its community, supporters, library and information services leaders, staff, and advocates of all races and backgrounds to stand with us in our efforts to abolish racism with an understanding that it has no place in our institutions, our policies, our practices, or our behaviors.
The University Libraries will continue to aim to serve as the information and learning hub for the campus and community by providing quality information services, technology, resources, and learning environments. Please use these further resources as a starting point with us, as we evaluate our own practices and work with this institution and beyond to create an organization of students, staff, faculty, and spaces that contributes to supporting an anti-racist environment:
Additional Resources: