Dear Beloved Community,

We sent a message this morning to all students inviting them to come together during selected times over the next two days. As an FYI, we also wanted to share with you the email they received and to invite you to join Black students, faculty, and staff tomorrow from 11-2.  We will be in touch with more news about our plans to continue providing support to all of us upon our return after the Fall holiday.

Hope you can join us as you find useful. See the message below:

Invitation to come together: BCW/BMI/OAAA Gathering

So much has happened over the last 48 hours. So much has happened since August 18th. So much, yet, so few words can adequately capture it all. Even less can sufficiently convey the emotional exhaustion that follows our efforts to respond, cope, or not allow ourselves to yield to the heavy burden of it all.

Since the beginning of the tragedy, we have responded to those directly impacted by the violence (students, family, and faculty). We have heard some students have yet to find a venue that suits their needs—a space to process with their peers. We can understand that.

Over the next two days, before people leave for the Fall holiday, we wanted to hold a few spaces for us to come together. In time, there will be opportunities for us to reflect on the depth of our sadness in more profound ways. This email is not that. These events may not serve that purpose either. Instead, we simply want to see you, hear how you are doing, and provide whatever support(s) we can in these difficult times.

We have reached out to Black student-athletes Offering Support and Service (BOSS) to expand our existing programming. First, we are providing two "gendered" opportunities to reflect:

This afternoon, we will expand our Black College Women gathering to support more Black women-identifying students. From noon to 1:30, we will have food and Black support staff and Deans in the Multicultural Student Center to provide support to Black women by Black women.

Black College Women: In the Company of My Sister
Today, November 16th, 2022
Multicultural Student Center
12:00-1:30 pm
Food Provided.

This evening, we will expand our Black Male Initiative dinner and discussion to support more Black men-identifying students. From 6:30-8:00, we will have food and Black support staff, community members, and Deans in the Multicultural Student Center to provide support to Black men by Black men.

Black Male Initiative: Dinner and Discussion
Today, November 16th, 2022
Multicultural Student Center
6:30-8:00 pm
Food Provided.

We have learned from our time with BMI and BCW that there are real gendered differences in how we approach meaning-making, grieving, celebration, and loss. Our love languages sometimes sound different. For these reasons, these formats remain relevant. However, there is also a need to be whole together.

On Thursday, from 11 am to 2 pm, we will hold space for everyone to reflect and be together. We invite you to join again in the MSC with our Black Faculty and Staff during this time. They are anxious to support you and let you know they are here for you.

Office of African-American Affairs and Community Gathering
Thursday, November 17^th, 2022
11 am – 2:00 pm
Food Provided.

Based on the recent emails from the provost, we will be happy to support you and reach out to your professors if you are concerned about missing classes. We hope these events will benefit your soul; I know we all feel depleted now.

We are also thinking of ways to support you as you return to the University after Thanksgiving. We will share more about that in the coming days.

For now, I hope to see you today and/or tomorrow.

Sincerely,

Office of African-American Affairs
&
Michael Gerard Mason, PhD, LPC
Interim Dean, African-American Affairs