The College of Engineering is Participating in #ShutDownSTEM
A note from Dean Kenneth R. Lutchen:
Today is a national movement called #ShutDownSTEM.
In the words from the #ShutDownSTEM website:
“For Black academics and STEM professionals, #ShutDownAcademia and #ShutDownSTEM is a time to prioritize their needs—whether that is to rest, reflect, or to act—without incurring additional cumulative disadvantage...Those of us who are not Black, particularly those of us who are white, play a key role in perpetuating systemic racism. Direct actions are needed to stop this injustice. Unless you engage directly with eliminating racism, you are perpetuating it. This moment calls for profound and meaningful change. #ShutDownAcademia and #ShutDownSTEM is the time for white and non-Black People of Color (NBPOC) to not only educate themselves, but to define a detailed plan of action to carry forward. Wednesday, June 10, 2020 will mark the day that we transition into a lifelong commitment of actions to eradicate anti-Black racism in academia and STEM.”
The leadership of the College of Engineering, including our Assistant and Associate Deans, our Chairs and Division Heads, and myself as Dean sincerely resonate with these words. As a community, we join the #ShutDownAcademia and #ShutDownSTEM to demonstrate our commitment to eradicating anti-Black racism. We encourage all members of our community to participate in #ShutDownAcademia by using June 10, 2020 to learn how you can participate in eradicating structural and systemic racism.
Refer to this link (https://www.shutdownstem.com/resources) to learn how you can be involved. Our hope is that by participating we begin (not end) the active process of better educating ourselves on the causes and impact of racism and racial profiling on the lives of Black people, along with actively ideating on concrete follow-on actions that can constructively impact our goal to eradicate racism. We invite those that do participate in #ShutDownSTEM to share any new ideas, perspectives, etc. that emerge to your department leaders, to our College leaders, and/or to me directly.
Sincerely,
Dean Kenneth Lutchen