Updates on Our Anti-Racist Agenda
Dear Brooklyn College colleagues,
Today is Wednesday, July 8, 2020, and I have a few updates to share.
First, Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced Monday that international students taking classes entirely online this fall will not be allowed to enter the United States and will be forced to leave if they are already in the country. This cruel decision stands directly at odds with the mission of Brooklyn College. We are working closely with CUNY Central and will do everything we can to support our international students to allow them to remain in the country and continue their education. For now, students with questions can reach out to our Immigrant Student Success Office at 718.951.5023.
Second, the anti-racist agenda I announced last week generated substantial interest. As I indicated, its genesis was the passionate letters that the Puerto Rican Alliance, Black Faculty and Staff, Faculty of Color, and Latino Faculty and Staff sent to me mid-June. I want to again thank the students, staff, and faculty who wrote those letters and advocated strongly for their ideas. They asked me to implement change, and we have now developed a comprehensive blueprint to do so.
Third, we have made substantial progress on the anti-racist agenda since its announcement last week. The Implementation Team for Racial Justice, led by Chief Diversity Officer Anthony Brown and Vice President for Student Affairs Ron Jackson, is enhancing representation by asking for two student delegates from the Undergraduate Student Government and Graduate Student Organization, two staff delegates from the Black Faculty and Staff Association and Latino Faculty and Staff, and two faculty delegates from the Faculty of Color Group and Faculty Council. The Implementation Team is especially interested in members of the groups that sent the initial letters joining as delegates.
Since last week, we have also developed a plan for the Diversity Mentorship Coordinator and Staff Ombudsperson. Anthony Brown and Human Resources Director Renita Simmons will draft a set of responsibilities and a selection process for each position. In early August, they will convene a stakeholders meeting to garner feedback, which will include members of Black Faculty and Staff, Faculty of Color Group, Latino Faculty and Staff, Africana Studies, and PRLS, among others. We plan to appoint these two positions in the fall.
Finally, we have slated Monday, July 13 at 1 p.m. as the first Anti-Racist Listening Session. Although everyone is invited to attend and raise any issue they wish, because students and faculty are often unavailable over the summer months, we want to focus on the racial justice issues that members still face. Specifically, we invite all Brooklyn College staff who are interested to attend the session. The Implementation Team will reach out shortly with details.
There is much more to do this summer, but we are excited to begin. We look forward to working together to advance an anti-racist agenda at the College.
Sincerely,
Michelle J. Anderson
President
