The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion mourns the lives of the five persons who were killed, and our thoughts are with those injured. The LGBTQIA+ community is hurting, and the pain is exacerbated by national rhetoric that centers itself on hate for transgender and gay people.
Category: DE&I Statements
Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is devastated by Monday’s horrific school shooting at the Central Visual and Performing Arts High School

Loss of life in a place of learning is unthinkable, and sadly all too familiar. Classrooms should be safe havens where young people feel welcomed and where learning is celebrated. Our community is strong; however, this pain cannot be healed easily. The consequences of gun violence are pervasive and affect entire communities: children, adults, and families.
In Solidarity
We are saddened and angered by the recent violence fueled by white supremacy and racism in Buffalo, Laguna Woods, and Dallas. We honor those who lost their lives. We grieve with those who lost loved ones and all who are impacted by the trauma of these events.
Holocaust Remembrance Day (Yom HaShoah)

Hi all, I’m writing to make you all aware of Holocaust Remembrance Day (Yom HaShoah) occurring from sundown on Wednesday, April 27th to sundown Thursday, April 28th. Some of you may have seen or observed the International Holocaust Day of Remembrance in January. Yom HaShoah marks the beginning of 3 important days within the Jewish […]
Statement in support of the Asian American and Pacific Islander Community
We stand in support and solidarity with our students, trainees, faculty and staff of Asian background, who for too long have suffered in silence at the indignity of being told they do not belong. We will not allow the evil of racial resentment to triumph.
Response to rescinded federal protections for the LGBTQIA community

A recent HHS decision that rescinds nondiscrimination rules in health care and insurance may remove protections for sexual orientation and gender identity.
The death of George Floyd: Speaking out against institutional racism (Links to an external site)

The promise of an institution like ours demands that we hold ourselves accountable to our ideals. We must see, acknowledge and respond to the inconvenient truths of our existence and do what we can to end systemic racism.
Speak up against xenophobia and racism during COVID-19

Fears of the novel coronavirus have led to deep divisiveness along racial and ethnic lines. We encourage our campus community to actively interrupt and denounce xenophobic and racist behavior.