Message from Interim Vice Provost Ng
Election-Related Resources Available, Before and After the Vote | October 28, 2020
Sent on behalf of Vice Provost of Student Affairs Tammara Durham, Vice Provost of Academic Success Susan Klusmeier, and Interim Vice Provost of Diversity & Equity Jennifer Ng.
Jayhawks,
As we approach Election Day, the units within Academic Success, Diversity & Equity, and Student Affairs want to call your attention to the election-related resources and events through the Center for Service Learning Civic Engagement Hub and our social media campaign.
The Civic Engagement Hub highlights a variety of resources tailored to our campus community and includes:
Post-election processing and support resources available on campus, in the Lawrence community, and nationally including the CAPS Peer Listening sessions.
Resources for instructors on discussing civic engagement in the classroom.
A list of recent and upcoming civic engagement events and activities.
Our collaborative social media campaign will focus on voting, campus resources, upcoming events, and wellness tips. Keep up with this campaign led by the Center for Service Learning, Student Support and Case Management, and Student Conduct and Community Standards by following #KUVotes.
Our shared Jayhawk Values focus on unity, innovation, inclusion, and engagement. During this election season and beyond, we encourage you to find meaningful ways to get involved and advocate for what you believe. Engage one another in a manner that honors our values. If you participate in a demonstration or other form of in-person activism, adhere to the Protect KU Pledge with proper precautions to protect yourself and others, just as you would in any other context. Report any incidents of harassment or discrimination to the Office of Institutional Opportunity and Access (IOA).
Rock Chalk,
Tammara Durham, Ed.D.
Vice Provost for Student Affairs
Susan Klusmeier, Ed.D.
Vice Provost for Academic Success
Jennifer Ng, Ph.D.
Interim Vice Provost for Diversity & Equity
Message from Diversity & Equity | August 27, 2020
Systemic and vigilante violence continues to disproportionately impact Black people in America and we continue to be inundated with a 24-hour news cycle and social media shares. The constant viewing of these modern-day lynchings has a psychological and physiological impact on Black people. To our Black community, we see you, we mourn with you, and we encourage each of you to take care of yourselves in the ways that feel best. As a division committed to equity and community care, we invite you to reach out, seek support, and process with us as you see fit. You can reach us via email at diversity@ku.edu.
To our non-Black communities of color, we know that white supremacy is felt by you in many ways as well and while it sometimes looks different, this violence against Black people is often a reminder of the violence you too have faced. We encourage you to also engage in practices of self-care, prioritizing yourself and your wellness. As you engage with Black colleagues, peers, students, and community members please hold space for those carrying the heavy burden of racist anti-Black violence.
To our white community members, critically examine what whiteness means to you and what shifts you need to make to become an anti-racist person in the fight for Black lives. This is the work of unlearning white superiority. Explore Black narratives at KU and beyond and remember Black Lives Matter.
From the teams of Office of Diversity & Equity, Emily Taylor Center for Women & Gender Equity, Multicultural Scholars Program, Office of Multicultural Affairs, Center for Sexuality & Gender Diversity
Message from Interim Vice Provost Ng | May 30, 2020
Dear Campus Students, Staff, and Faculty,
Our institution’s stated commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion mean little if we cannot clearly condemn and combat anti-Black racism and violence. As the recent experience of Christian Cooper while birdwatching and murders of Ahmaud Arbery while jogging; Breonna Taylor while sleeping; and George Floyd while pleading simply to breathe powerfully remind us, the manifestations of such discrimination are simultaneously routine and egregious. The death of Tony McDade also reminds us that transgender people of color are subject to even greater risk of violence. These current tragedies are only a few examples of racist acts arising from unjust systems, deeply engrained biases, and long historical legacies. Amidst the present pain and trauma many are feeling—on top of a global pandemic and increasingly divisive political climate affecting this country—there is much to be done.
Let’s make it a priority right now to sustain and care for ourselves and each other. Many of us find comfort and sustenance in community, so please watch in coming days for opportunities to virtually convene in affinity based and other community conversations. Continue to connect and find support also through the Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA), the Emily Taylor Center for Women and Gender Equity (ETC), the Center for Sexuality and Gender Diversity (SGD), and the network of Faculty and Staff Councils.
Additionally, let’s (re)commit to realizing our values in action. This includes the teaching, research, and service endeavors many of us are already doing across campus and beyond. However, I hope we are further compelled to individual and collective participation in frank conversations and continued education; peaceful protest and sustained, strategic agitation; and coalition-building that leverages enduring change. In the spirit of such action and engagement, here are a few initial offerings:
Black Trauma and Showing Up at Work
Talking with Children about Race
Sincerely,
Jennifer Ng, Ph.D.
Interim Vice Provost, Diversity & Equity
Professor, Educational Leadership and Policy Studies