Spalding is a compassionate university, and to be compassionate means to share in the suffering others are experiencing. To the black members of our campus community, we know many of you are suffering. We know many of you are sad and angry, maybe even scared. You’re hurting, our city is hurting, and our University hurts with you.
The tragic deaths of Breonna Taylor, George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery are just some of the devastating examples of the vulnerability of black lives in this country and bring to light the inequities that black citizens experience every day.
Spalding supports the protesters who have rallied and marched on the streets around our campus and whose voices need to be heard. It’s heartbreaking that in many cases, the protests turned violent. The news that there was a death overnight evidently related to the protests adds another crushing layer of tension and pain.
We are an institution that treasures the diversity of our students, and we continually seek to create and develop programs that we hope make a lasting difference in expanding minds and worldviews.
While we know we can and must do more, we are committed to continuing the efforts already under way at Spalding to bring about positive, systemic change:
- Spalding is a primary partner with the city and LMPD on the Synergy Project, wherein police and residents have honest and meaningful conversations about their concerns and hopes, and agree on concrete actions police and residents can take to strengthen their relations and ultimately save lives. These conversations are meant to translate to actionable change in our community. The Synergy Project is modeled after a program that helped in the healing process of Charleston, South Carolina, following the tragic shooting at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church. We hope the Synergy Project will bring healing to Louisville in the months ahead.
- Spalding’s Center for Peace and Spiritual Renewal facilitates thoughtful conversations on campus on a range of issues, including those related to racism. Executive Director of Peace and Spiritual Renewal Chandra Irvin is also a member of the Mayor’s new Civilian Review Workgroup.
- Spalding is launching Louisville’s first Doctor of Social Work program, which is dedicated to increasing the number of social workers of color in our community who have a doctorate and the skills needed to lead organizations, teach at the university level and provide advanced practice.
- Led by Dr. Deonte Hollowell, Spalding has launched a new minor in African American Studies, providing an opportunity for any undergraduate student to learn more about the history and experience of black people in the United States.
- The Black Student Alliance is an active Recognized Student Organization that provides a safe space on campus for minority students to learn, support one another and challenge the Spalding community to continue to be better at hearing the needs of the black community and taking timely and actionable steps towards change.
- The Black Professional Nurses Alliance is an active Recognized Student Organization that was established to support, encourage, and teach students of color how to strategize and navigate through issues such as oppression, racial gaps, and inequalities on campus. BPNA focuses on building a safe space where African American students can speak openly on previous and current experiences as they relate to race. The goal of the organization is to create an atmosphere that will build solid relationships on and off campus that will further advance positive outcomes for African Americans during their campus experience at Spalding University.
li>Spalding has launched a Criminal Justice Studies program with a unique emphasis on restorative justice and criminal justice reform. This program will equip future law-enforcement officials with a broad understanding of race and social injustice while promoting restorative ways for offenders to remedy harm and make amends. There is also a new academic minor in Restorative Justice.
li>Under the leadership of Associate Director Dr. Steven Kniffley, the Collective Care Center, which is part of Spalding’s Center for Behavioral Health, specializes in therapy for victims of race-based trauma.
We know that our work is not complete. We have much left to do. But for now, to the black members of our community, know this: We are one. We support you. We share in your anguish. Black lives matter.
If you choose to, let your voices be heard. Spalding will support you. Stay safe. Stay strong.