Executive Messaging

Dear CLA Family,

 

While the events of the last several days have highlighted a need for change and yet another call for justice, experiences of inequitable treatment and racial violence towards black people are sadly nothing new. While the days of Martin Luther King Jr. brought great change, his work is far from done. Today we mourn with those who are hurting. Today we link arms with those who cry out for justice. Today we know that making a statement is meaningless unless it is followed by action. So today we outline a few of the things we have done and what we plan to do to continue to diversify our Auburn Family and support a more just society.

 

What we have done:

• Established the CLA Diversity Scholarship to allow an opportunity for students from underrepresented groups to attend Auburn tuition free

• Created the CLA Diversity Committee 

• Provided financial support for the Mosaic Theatre Company, a group that fosters dialogue about diversity through theatrical performances

• Hosted events and marches to honor the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and to continue his work of becoming a more beloved community

• Hosted the CLA Diversity Symposium to highlight student and faculty research around the many factors related to diversity

• Facilitated theatre students leading performance workshops for local students in predominantly black, under resourced schools

• Created an interdisciplinary project with journalism and social work students to engage citizens in Northwest Auburn and listen to their voices

 

We plan to increase our efforts to support these endeavors and others over the next year. In addition, a new collaborative effort between historians at Auburn University and faculty members from Tuskegee University is already in the planning stages to create The Alabama Center for Reparative Justice. This Center’s guiding values include justice and redemption, promoting peace building and reparative practices, inclusive democratic procedures, and truth telling through consensus building. This new collaborative center is needed now more than ever. With it, we choose action over words, healing over hurt, and justice over injustice.

 

Joseph Aistrup, Dean

College of Liberal Arts

Auburn University