Student Tribune
Wednesday Message: Together Against Racism
At MCC's invitation, over the last few days SUNY Vice Chancellor and Chief
Diversity Officer Dr. Carlos Medina has been on our campuses listening to
faculty, staff, students and administrators discuss racism and our response to
last month's racist tweet. He has provided a valued, external perspective and
has validated something all of us already know: this work--the work of
combatting racism--is hard, but it must be done.
We will do this work together. We have started with an action plan that
seeks to engage all members of our college community. The plan builds upon the
good work that is already happening and offers opportunities for new
initiatives. I invite you to help shape the plan as it moves forward. Many have
already reached out to me or to action step leaders to offer ideas and
volunteer to serve. Faculty leaders have expressed their commitment to doing
the work necessary to ensure a "more just, equitable and safe space." Thank
you. We are stronger together and I appreciate your commitment to this work.
As we move from discussion to action, transparency must surround our
activities. Let us highlight the many initiatives already in place--and there
are many examples of excellent work in inclusion, diversity, unconscious bias,
cultural competency, and more. Let's make sure that not only our colleagues
know of this good work but that our community knows of it as well. We are the
community's college; we have an obligation to show how we are ensuring that the
full diversity of our community is and feels welcomed here. I invite you to
share on the blog the work you are already involved in related to diversity and
inclusion.
My thanks to the more than 150 college community members who met with Dr.
Medina over the last few days. His visit materialized quickly, with just a few
days' notice, yet you cleared your calendars for this important dialogue. Thank
you.
We cannot let hate win. I look forward to working with you to make MCC and
the MCC community stronger, more diverse and more inclusive. Our students and
our community deserve nothing less.
Kress, Anne
President's Office
10/18/2017