We at Wellness Services acknowledge the deep, painful roots of racial injustice felt most directly by our Black/African-American students living, learning, and working within our campus community.

Systemic racism is pervasive and has chronic effects on our students' well-being. We are committed to speaking out and taking action against systemic racism in ourselves, in our work, and in our community.

For our Black students - we will listen to your lived experience with empathy, and without judgment or giving advice. Even with our limitations of understanding your lived experience, we are here to support you, advocate for you, and to provide space for your grief, anger, sorrow, trauma, rage, pain, fear, loss, hope, confusion, and any other emotions you carry - with or without words. We are committed to continuing to actively educate ourselves without putting the burden on you to teach or do this important work for us.

"Holding space" is only the start, and we at Wellness Services are also examining and reflecting on changes we can make; advocacy we can engage in; and support we can offer for voices that have historically been unheard.

Even if numbers on our campus are few, you count. You are not invisible. We see you. We want to hear your voices, and we will use ours alongside yours. We will not look away, even when it's painful to face our own privilege, complicity, and responsibility. We choose solidarity. Black Lives Matter to us.