{"id":6249,"date":"2020-09-18T08:36:36","date_gmt":"2020-09-18T12:36:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/commons.trincoll.edu\/reporter\/?page_id=6249"},"modified":"2020-09-18T08:36:36","modified_gmt":"2020-09-18T12:36:36","slug":"a-call-for-racial-justice","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/commons.trincoll.edu\/reporter-fall2020\/along-the-walk\/a-call-for-racial-justice\/","title":{"rendered":"A Call for Racial Justice"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Attendees\u2014socially distancing and wearing masks\u2014listen to speakers.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As protests against racism and police brutality filled the streets in this country and in locations across the globe, and as the @blackattrin Instagram account invited first-person perspectives from Trinity, the college continued to stand firm in its commitment to racial justice. <\/p>\n

In a July 1 letter to the community<\/a>, President Joanne Berger-Sweeney shared principles that guide her leadership, including an understanding that \u201chigher education has the power to transform individuals and to transform society,\u201d that \u201csystemic change demands a willingness to dismiss with a \u2018business as usual\u2019 mentality,\u201d and that \u201cbeing intentionally anti-racist must be embedded in everything we do.\u201d      <\/p>\n

In response to demands from Trinity\u2019s Umoja Coalition<\/a>\u2014an organization of several Black student groups at Trinity (see below for a complete list)\u2014as well as groups of alumni and friends of the college, Berger-Sweeney also laid out a plan for 10 initial commitments of actions to be taken as soon as practicable. These actions include requiring anti-racist, unconscious bias, and equity education for all campus members, trustees, and key volunteers; increasing diversity among faculty; and developing an anti-racist summit and supporting other anti-racist programming to improve the campus climate beginning in the fall.<\/p>\n

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Trinity College\u2019s Main Quad was the site in June 2020 of the Reflect, Resist, Release vigil in solidarity with Black Lives Matter.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

On July 2, Trinity\u2019s Board of Trustees followed Berger-Sweeney\u2019s letter with a pledge to take several initial steps as well, including immediately identifying more Black candidates for membership on the board, especially focusing on Black women; looking for more board candidates among the Latinx and LGBTQAI+ community; and forming a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee among its standing committees. Trustees also have committed new gifts totaling $400,000 to renovate Umoja House and to fund a number of new initiatives of Trinity\u2019s Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion aimed at combating systemic racism at the college.<\/p>\n

The letter from the board<\/a> concluded: \u201cThis is a beginning. The first step is to express support and embrace those in our community who remind us that Black Lives Matter and that the work to change begins with examination of ourselves and the institutions and societies we inhabit. We commit ourselves to this journey, which is wholly consistent with the mission of Trinity College and all other institutions of higher learning that perceive themselves as a force for social good. Please join us in this effort.\u201d<\/p>\n

Berger-Sweeney noted in her letter that she remains hopeful for real and lasting change. \u201cThe Trinity community has my personal commitment that I will not let go of these challenges until we have changed for the better the experiences of people of color on our campus and improved racial justice and equity at this college. You can and should be part of the solution. I ask you to fight with me with Bantam spirit and pride for what our institution can and must be.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Signs adorned with the names of victims of police brutality dot the quad. Photo by Jyles Romer ’20<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Umoja Coalition organizations:
\nAthletes of Color Coalition (ACC)
\nCaribbean Students\u2019 Association (CSA)
\nImani Black Student Union (BSU)
\nMen of Color Alliance (MOCA)
\nTrinity African Students\u2019 Association (TASA)
\nTrinity College Black Women\u2019s Organization (TCBWO)
\nTrinity College Chapter Temple of Hip Hop<\/p>\n

Editor\u2019s note: At press time, the college was working to respond to demands shared on @trinsurvivors, an Instagram page dedicated to survivors of sexual violence and their fight for justice. <\/em><\/p>\n

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