Statement from Board of Trustees Promises Diversity and Inclusion Plan, States “Black Lives Matter”
In a statement to the Marist community on July 23, the Marist Board of Trustees announced its intention to release a plan for “immediate and long-term steps to improve diversity and inclusion” at the college by the end of the week.
This is the first concrete step that the college has taken after hundreds of students called on President Dennis J. Murray to take action in the wake of the Black Lives Matter protests across the country. The announcement included a new statement from the Board of Trustees that states “Black lives matter” –– a declaration that a number of Marist community movements demanded.
The upcoming plan to promote diversity and inclusion is promised to cover faculty, staff and student training, curriculum, hiring practices, mentoring, admissions, a process for investigation bias, among other areas. Further details regarding the specifics of these actions will be released by the end of next week.
““We at Marist believe that Black lives matter.””
The newly adopted statement from the Board of Trustees notes the college’s commitment to establishing a welcoming and supportive space for all students. The college promises to ensure greater access to a Marist education for all, while promoting an environment of “equality, mutual respect, tolerance, and active engagement.”
“We realize also that that community must reflect the diversity of our nation and world if our students are to develop the qualities necessary for effective collaboration and leadership in today’s global society,” the statement reads.
Finally, the message closes with a condemnation of systematic racism and racial violence—a statement of recognition from the Marist administration that students have been calling for since the beginning of the Black Lives Matter protests in early June.
“We at Marist believe that Black lives matter. We make this statement based not only on our College’s values, but also because of our moral beliefs and the principles enumerated in the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments to our US Constitution.”
