GONZAGA FACULTY AND STAFF NEWSLETTER
OCTOBER 2020 VOL. 22 | #2
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BLM: A DREAM WITH OTHERS CAN BECOME REALITY AT GU
Not since 1963’s March on Washington that drew 250,000 people to illuminate the inequalities and challenges facing African Americans has this country heard a louder or more persistent outcry for racial equity and justice. Fueled by summer police killings of unarmed Black Americans, the Black Lives Matter movement has dramatically raised the level of America’s conscience, and that of our community, as well.
Gonzaga deans rallied, sharing their thoughts on envisioning an anti-racist practice in higher education. “With each act of violence, hatred and discrimination wrought upon Black, Brown Black Lives Matter#SayTheirNames memorial to unarmed Black individuals killed by police in last decade. and Indigenous people in our country, we lose a piece of our souls because we allow change each other, we can become more • Education as well as personal and hatred to persist. Our society is steeped in creative in better addressing issues for the professional development regarding racism,” Deans Ken Anderson, Paul Bracke, benefit of us all,” Ellis says. prejudice and discrimination. Annmarie Caño, Yolanda Gallardo, Karlene Hoo, Rosemarie Hunter, Jacob Rooksby, Vince • Continued efforts to recruit, hire and retain UMEC offers two Gonzaga community events Salyers and Jason Houston wrote in a Sept. 4 this month. “Talk About it Monday: It’s Not a more culturally diverse workforce. message to the Gonzaga community. “These About Good Cops, Bad Cops,” is Oct. 5, a • An Implicit Bias Review of curriculum problems are systemic and so our response session tackling the history of racism in policing and pedagogy to evaluate what we teach must be, as well.” and what defunding police would mean. and how we support culturally inclusive A collaboration with the Lincoln LGBTQ+ They called on all faculty to engage in instruction. Resource Center, which is also part of DICE, understanding what racism is, how it functions • Supporting collaborations among key “Calling In the Calling Out Culture,” features and the power it can have when it is not programs (and more): Diversity, Equity guest Loretta Ross on Oct. 13. She represents addressed. They asked faculty members to and Inclusion (DEI), Diversity, Inclusion, an approachable way to consider how we demonstrate their commitment to this antiCommunity & Equity (DICE), Student Affairs, come together in community, and yet still racist work through courageous conversations, Mission & Ministry, Academic programs such hold structures accountable. Reservations questioning teaching methods, examining as Critical Race and Ethnic Studies, Center are required for both, through Zagtivities. curricular content and creating new policies or for Civil and Human Rights (School of Law), But her favorite student event is Diversity reforming old ones. Institute for Hate Studies (GIHS) and Center Monologues, scheduled in late March, which On Sept. 11, Gonzaga leaders Thayne for Public Humanities. highlights student stories and experiences. McCulloh, Deena González, Kent Porterfield “The vulnerability that these students share on Tide Beginning to Turn, and Raymond Reyes said work is underway to stage is so powerful, and the learning that takes But Work to be Done “harness this contentious moment as a catalyst place leaves those who attend humbled by the to address racial justice across the curriculum experience,” Ellis says. Deb Ellis is the social justice programming and co-curricular programming in the Jesuit manager at the Unity Multicultural Education As part of the Division of Student Affairs, tradition,” encouraging us to “work together to Center (UMEC), which is part of DICE, and DICE organized professional development be better and to do better.” works primarily with students. She’s been here opportunities for their colleagues to increase 10 years and has seen the tide beginning to President McCulloh shared in his Juneteenth cultural fluency and humility through book turn on racism. And the opportunity has never message five actions “we are taking as a groups, film discussions and identity-specific been better to educate ourselves on racism, to university community.” spaces – a Black, Indigenous, People of Color listen to what people of color have shared with (BIPOC) affinity group as well as a White • Engaged listening with students and us, what we need to learn from, and to practice Accountability Space. The latter addressed the colleagues – especially our community daily the work of anti-racism,” she says. question: How do I understand my privilege members of color – to understand their “By coming together, not being defensive, experiences and identify opportunities for Continued on next page understanding our differences, not trying to support and intervention. Page 1