SLHS Response to the Death of George Floyd

Dear SLHS community, Protests are continuing across the country in response to the deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and others before them. Many in our SLHS community are hurting. Many of us are afraid. Many of us are reflecting on how we can do better, as individuals, as a School, and as a Profession. Current initiatives on diversity and inclusion across the University have led the SLHS faculty to conversations about the systemic racism and bias that continues to permeate our society and the spaces where we live and work. The events of the past weeks serve as a stark reminder that we must continue to listen and learn and that we must all do better to be agents of positive change. SLHS is committed to doing its fair share. President de la Torre’s email from May 30th contained links to a number of healing circles that are taking place this week. A link to other Campus Support Services can be found here and resources for both support and action are available here. We encourage you to make use of these resources and to reach out and check in with each other. In the words of President de la Torre: “Mere words without action are futile. Know that decisive steps to heal our community and right the wrongs against our Black community members, and our communities of color, will continue and increase. I urge each of you to live through love. It is the first step to counter unacceptable, and equally painful, forms of racial bias and violence within our community.” SLHS stands in solidarity with our Black colleagues, students, and community members along with all marginalized groups. on behalf of the SLHS faculty and staff, Tracy Love, Ph.D. Director and Professor, School of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences