While the COVID-19 pandemic has fundamentally altered the landscape of our college campuses over the last several months, we are acutely aware that there are many other threats weighing on the hearts and minds of our membership. We all work in a state and country deeply impacted by the lasting and ongoing effects of White supremacy and systemic racism; from the xenophobic attacks at Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA)-identified individuals in response to this global pandemic, to the racist acts of violence we are seeing footage of, witnessing, and potentially experiencing every day. From Amy Cooper, to the recent deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd, this past month in particular has been a mentally, physically, and emotionally taxing one as we must confront the role racism plays in our society. While we are all impacted by the heaviness of our current moment, we recognize that people of color, and particularly Black individuals, are disproportionately being asked to carry the weight of their own oppression. This weight is not metaphorical – it has a direct impact on our colleagues’ and students’ ability to feel safe within our communities.
“OCPA strives to be a welcoming and just community that appreciates, understands and celebrates diversity and multiculturalism while critically examining its practices and policies in the continued push for equity, inclusivity and human dignity.”
Our association’s equity and inclusion statement, replicated here, calls on our association to take action towards creating more equitable and just institutions of higher education. It also calls on us to support our colleagues, friends, and community members right now in the face of immense tragedy.
Too often, the work of racial justice and equity generally falls on the shoulders of people with minoritized identities. To the Black, Latinx, Indigenous, APIDA, multi-racial, and all other people of color in our association and in our higher education community: we see you and we find the racism that permeates our world and, too often, our work to be unacceptable. We hear your outrage. We hold space for you. We, as a field, must fight alongside you. We, as an association, will fight alongside you.
To our White members and colleagues, this is a call to action. We challenge each and every one of you to commit to the life-long work of anti-racism. Education is a crucial part of that step, but there is a profound need for not only education, but action. That action can take many forms. Participate in political advocacy to change the policies and systems that perpetuate racism and racial violence. Interrogate your own implicit biases. Join a community organized protest to speak out alongside those fighting for their lives. Donate to nonprofits who are supporting the liberation of the disproportionately high numbers of people of color being arrested during protests. Speak with the young people in your life about what is happening in our world and how they will continue the work of eradicating such injustice into the future. Engage your fellow White people in challenging and meaningful discussions about the role of race in America and White people’s role in fighting for racial justice.
As an association, we want to provide opportunities for our members and colleagues to engage in these conversations towards racial justice.
People of Color Affinity Space | Showing Up for Our Colleagues and Students: A Call to Action for White Higher Ed Professionals |
If you are a Person of Color and could benefit from an opportunity to connect with fellow higher education professionals across Ohio to share thoughts, feelings, and concerns about the last few weeks, please consider joining in our first “OCPA People of Color Affinity Space.” This is an informal Zoom gathering on Friday, June 19 at 3:00 p.m. You are welcome to come and go as your schedule permits, and all are welcome, not just OCPA members. You can register for this program on CampusGroups at this link. | For our White members and colleagues, please join us Wednesday, June 24, 12:30-1:30pm for “Showing Up for Our Colleagues and Students: A Call to Action for White Higher Ed Professionals.” As White people, it must be our responsibility to show up to combat racism by taking action to change the systems that impact our colleagues and students every day. Join OCPA for a discussion about the role White higher education professionals can and should play in doing anti-racist work. We will share strategies, discuss relevant research around Whiteness, and hold space for processing our role in the fight for racial justice. This webinar is also welcome to members and colleagues alike and you can register on OCPA’s CampusGroup’s page at this link. |
Please share broadly with colleagues who you think might benefit. We can only make change if we all work together, and we appreciate your engagement in creating the world we want our students to experience.
OCPA is continually looking for ways to live our value of equity and inclusion. While we currently have several other initiatives that we are looking to implement in the coming year, if there is something that you want to see OCPA doing, please reach out to Anna Wagner, Equity and Inclusion Chair on the OCPA Board at (wagner.1476@osu.edu).
Yours,
Colette Masterson, Past-President
Mark Zeno, President
Julie Humbel-Courtney, President-Elect