I am deeply saddened and angered by recent events. The death of George Floyd is an unthinkable travesty. We must recognize the inherent racism in a society which fosters this kind of treatment of black men and women. We see evidence of disproportionate violence, harassment, and discrimination against people of color throughout our country. Mr. Floyd is dead as a result, and the outrage his death has sparked in so many people is understandable and justifiable.
Violence and the destruction of property, of course, does nothing to further the cause, nor does it honor Mr. Floyd’s memory. In a very real way, these actions distract from what the real conversation should be – the desperate need for fundamental change.
As a Catholic and Franciscan college, Siena strives to uphold the sacred dignity of every human being. Siena’s diversity and inclusion statement ends this way:
Siena is committed to affirming and protecting the dignity and rights of each person and addressing issues of bias, discrimination and exclusion where they exist. Grounded in our Franciscan and Catholic traditions, we celebrate and value the diversity and strive to promote an inclusive community that is welcoming and supporting of all.
We also encourage activism and advocacy by our students, faculty and staff to promote social justice, living the ideals embraced in Siena’s Mission Statement, our commitment “to building a world that is more just, peaceable, and humane.”
As servant leaders committed to this tenet, we are all called to advocate for systemic change in organizations that have institutionalized bias and discrimination and created inequities that cause the poor and powerless to suffer more severely in a crisis, such as the present pandemic. As Saints, we must address the fundamental issues at the heart of our nation’s outrage. Let us start with candid conversations and sustained advocacy in the global, national, and regional arenas, and even on our own campus.
“The world needs more Saints” is a popular refrain on our campus. Right now, though, it has a deeper, more profound meaning. Let our actions demonstrate that these are not merely words.
Sincerely,
Margaret E. Madden, Ph.D., Interim President