Dear Spalding Community,
As you may be aware, Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron is expected at some point in the near future to announce a decision on whether or not charges will be brought against the Louisville Metro Police Department officers involved in the shooting death of Breonna Taylor.
The Attorney General has given no timeline for an announcement, but LMPD, as well as downtown businesses and federal buildings, have begun preparing for possible large-scale protests. LMPD announced overnight that it would be restricting vehicle traffic and limiting surface parking from Market to Broadway and Second Street to Roy Wilkins, and it has assembled vehicle barriers around Jefferson Square Park. The LMPD restrictions are taking place north of our campus, so Spalding’s campus will remain open and operating on a normal schedule until the day of the Attorney General’s decision, whenever it may come. Please use caution and allow extra time if you are traveling downtown.
We do not know what Attorney General Cameron will announce, but it is safe to assume that countless people in Louisville and around the nation will be watching and will have strong emotional reactions, no matter the outcome. Whenever the announcement comes, there could be large demonstrations downtown that affect traffic, and it’s possible that protests could approach or even pass through the streets of our campus.
Tentative plan for Spalding
At Spalding, we have prepared a series of tentative, precautionary measures for the day the announcement comes down. These plans are subject to change. So that you can be prepared and informed, our tentative plan includes the following:
- All face-to-face classes will move online for the remainder of the day after the Attorney General’s announcement is made. No matter the outcome, we feel the potential disruption to roadways downtown could make a trip to campus too difficult to manage.
- Faculty, please prepare for the possibility that your face-to-face classes may temporarily switch to an online format. Please determine the best method for accomplishing this, and plan to communicate any changes to your students.
- Faculty and staff who work on campus and are not essential to the security and care of our residential students, please speak with your supervisor about a plan to finish your work day at home on the day of the Attorney General’s announcement.
- Be aware that exterior doors to campus buildings may be locked and accessible only with a key or, where applicable, an Eagle Card ID.
- Campus Safety officers will be stationed in both residence halls and several other key areas around campus. Campus Safety is always available at 502-873-4444 to assist you as you walk to your car or move about campus.
- Group and individual support from faculty and staff will be available in person and online for those who wish to process with others after the announcement. At any point, students may contact Counseling and Psychological Services at caps@spalding.edu or the Center for Peace and Spiritual Renewal at cirvin@spalding.edu .
- Decisions about classes and campus operations in the days following the Attorney General’s announcement will be made on those days.
We will communicate to the campus via the Omnilert E2Campus alert system and through Spalding email. If you haven’t done so, please register to receive the campus alerts at this link: https://spalding.omnilert.net/subscriber.php
Students, please communicate your questions and concerns to your instructor, program director, academic chair or academic dean, or the Dean of Students. Employees, please do the same with your supervisor.
We will continue to share updates and information, so continue to check your Spalding email.
This is undoubtedly a tense, uncertain moment for our city. It is also a historic, pivotal moment, rooted in the fight for social justice. We have been inspired by those protesters who have marched peacefully and lawfully for months against racial injustice, and we will continue to support calls for justice.
All the best,
Tori Murden McClure
Spalding University President