Submitted by: Bradley Keough, Evan Woolaway and Merveille Bulonza
Fiat Racial Justice - A statement from Student Senate & SAB’s Executive Boards
We mourn and honor the lives of Black individuals who have been victims of police brutality and systemic racial injustice. However, we also recognize that none of this is news. The hurt, frustration, and anger felt by communities of color is significant and must be acknowledged. The deaths of Black Americans such as George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Daniel Prude, and countless others who have been targeted and not given justice because of their skin color is deplorable, a disgrace, and unconscionable.
We unequivocally stand in solidarity with the Black community and Black Lives Matter throughout the nation as they organize, protest, and demonstrate for justice and rights which should be given to and secured for all.
It should go without saying that we are appalled and outraged by the persistent structural and systemic state-sponsored violence which has been perpetrated against Black, Brown, and other marginalized populations. Though the most recent egregious murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Eric Reason, Tony Mcdade, and Michael Lorenzo Dean highlight the pervasive nature of the lack of respect for Black and Brown bodies, they are not isolated by any means. Instead, they further expose and demonstrate the threats to our nation, our students, and our communities. Our system is broken and Black communities are especially vulnerable. Without economic and social equity Black communities cannot - and will not - have the peace and security they deserve. No student, person, or community is expendable in the name of justice. We must take steps in the coming days, weeks, months, and years to change.
As student leaders in the Alfred University community, our mission is to encourage student involvement in both national and local groups and organizations founded under the auspices of empowerment and advocacy, including but not limited to Say Her Name, Black Lives Matter, Black Trans Lives Matter, The Black Caucus, and Umoja. Our role as leaders is to implement meaningful change and embrace our commitment to equity, inclusion, and diversity. We strive to lead the campus community in these developments.
This starts with each of us, and we must hold ourselves and each other accountable. The Senate and SAB (Student Activities Board) will commit to concrete structural steps to be implemented over the next academic year and beyond to improve, enhance, and support our community moving forward.
➢ We will continue to support the Black Diasporic clubs and organizations of Alfred University with financial aid and collaborative efforts:
○ The Senate’s Finance Chair and Treasurer are very interested in continuing to provide support for racial justice causes and events. Please contact them at senatefinance@alfred.edu
○ After the covid restrictions have been lifted, the Senate will be looking into funding transportation that will take students from our campus to the Big Flats area, where they will have access to a wider variety of stores (Target™, Best Buy™, Tops™, Barnes and Noble™, Old Navy™ and T.J. Maxx™ to name a few.)
➢ Utilize, cultivate, and encourage the development of Black, Brown, and other marginalized population owned business and resources, when possible, for programmatic needs and opportunities intentionally and consistently.
○ The Senate will be reaching out to the procurement office with the intention of promoting purchases from Black owned businesses.
○ The Senate will also be working with SAB to promote Black vendors at our events.
➢ Improve our education on systemic racism, oppression and racialized violence.
○ The Senate will be working with Common Ground to facilitate roundtable discussions to bring attention to local systemic racism.
○ The Senate would like to promote AU’s social justice and Africana minors, information for which can be found here: https://bit.ly/3dkigPQ
○ The Senate will center and elevate the voices of those who are marginalized in global society to empower those who are most often silenced or muted.
➢ Prioritize clear communication between the different organizations on campus.
○ The Senate Diversity Chair will be sending out monthly emails updating you on our anti-racist initiatives.
○ The Senate will be working with Alfred for Racial Justice on promoting communication between racial justice groups.
○ The Senate will reach out to deans regarding the better dissemination of information among students.
We would also like to include a response email address to promote communication between the Senate and the wider community. The email address is: ausenateresponses@gmail.com.
Fiat Justice & Change
Your Alfred University Student Senate & SAB Executive Boards
