Dear Communication Arts community,
We write with sadness and outrage. Like many of you, we are deeply affected by the events of the last few weeks. The deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, and Tony McDade are horrifying, as is the long history of oppression and violence that created the conditions under which their lives were taken. During this time of grief and pain, we wish to state our unequivocal support of the Black community, and to express our admiration for the many people raising their voices in protest in Madison and around the country. We join them in calling for accountability, justice, and real change. As researchers and teachers, we view the pursuit and dissemination of knowledge as a tool for forging social justice, and we are committed to interrogating social, economic, and political disparities in order to create a more just world.
If you are struggling, here are some local resources to help you:
- SilverCloud can assist with anxiety and stress management;
- The Center for Healthy Minds offers training in resilience and mindfulness;
- LifeMatters is available for faculty and staff seeking assistance with life, work, family and well-being;
- University Health Services is available to provide support services to students.
And we are available if people would like to talk. For those of you who wish to get involved locally, we encourage you to learn more about Freedom
Inc., which has been leading on issues of racial justice in Madison for many years.
In community,
The Department of Communication Arts