P R E S I D E N T
M A C U R
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DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION A T
M E D A I L L E
C O L L E G E
The taking of Black lives has to matter, and at Medaille, Black Lives Do Matter. We have all witnessed many horrible events, throughout our lifetime and over the last year, that serve as a mirror for us to see the ugliness of racism in its most extreme form. In light of the social turmoil that our nation is experiencing surrounding the disparities and gaps that exist for Black people in this country, we have decided to look inward to see how we, as a College community, can do a better job of addressing the needs of our Black students, faculty and staff. We believe that it is actually very patriotic to acknowledge systemic racism. You cannot fix what you choose to ignore. You cannot fix problems by writing memos saying they do not exist. You cannot fix problems by punishing those who seek to fix them. You cannot deny history. And if that means that some people will feel uncomfortable, that is OK. Only when people challenge their own beliefs, assumptions, principles and biases can we hope to make progress. We believe in calling people in, not calling them out. As Buffalo’s College, our goal is to be even more intentional about learning what Medaille can do to be a more inclusive and welcoming environment for everyone. We have launched some initiatives to help us in this effort. One such initiative is the “Black Voices Matter” movement, which is a series of conversations between Black students, myself and Director of Diversity & Inclusion Kenya Hobbs, with the intent of collaborating to enhance our diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. Additionally, the Minority Faculty and Staff Organization (MFSO) has been established to build community among the faculty and staff of color at the College. It is their intention to create an inclusive environment that increases understanding and cultivates respect for diversity. The MFSO strives to strengthen collegial collaboration with other faculty, staff, students, alumni and community groups that share Medaille College’s goals. It is within this framework that we highlight the experiences of staff and students, in their own voices, as they challenge the broader Medaille community to find ways to change the world by starting at our own front door. I hope you will take the time to read and consider the following two articles with an open mind and open heart.
Dr. Kenneth M. Macur, Medaille College President Read the full statement from Dr. Macur on the Death of George Floyd at medaille.edu/equity.
