Dear Marietta College Family,
Like so many others, we at Marietta College are deeply saddened, angry, and heartbroken by the tragic circumstances surrounding the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis this past week. This and other similar incidents in which the lives of black Americans have been needlessly taken, once again remind us that systemic discrimination continues to impact our nation.
On behalf of the entire Marietta College community, we extend our deepest sympathies to Mr. Floyd’s family and friends.
As a college representing thousands of students, faculty, staff and alumni from all walks of life, we are committed to fostering a culture of inclusivity and respect on our campus and in our community. We must come together to eradicate racism and all other forms of discrimination and bigotry, because they allow us to believe that our fellow human beings are somehow less human than we are, and therefore that their lives are less valuable.
Over the past week so many of you in The Long Blue Line have reached out to share those sentiments, expressed your commitment to speaking out against hatred and bias, and supported Marietta College being a leader in making this positive change happen. We cannot tell you how much we appreciate that.
When biases — whether conscious or unconscious — allow us to commit acts of violence against another human being, people are justifiably going to feel saddened, angered, and frustrated. We must affirm the right of individuals in the United States to assemble for safe and peaceful protest so that they can give voice to their concerns, while being mindful of public health guidelines and concerns.
Please know that we at Marietta College are committed to deepening our understanding of the causes of structural inequities within our society and taking action to eliminate those inequities, whether it is violence, or education, or health care, or any other facets of our shared human experiences.
This message also reaffirms our commitment to building an inclusive environment and using all of our resources — faculty, staff, students, alumni, and friends of Marietta College — to help us deepen our understanding of these issues, and end all forms of discrimination, whether race, ethnicity, gender identity, religion or otherwise that plague our country.
Please take care, stay calm, and know that we grieve with you during these challenging times.
Sincerely,
Bill Ruud, President
Matt Weekley, Chair, Board of Trustees
Jack Hopkins, Chair, MCAA
Janet Bland, Provost
Richard Danford, Vice President for Student Life
Larry Hiser, Director of Intercollegiate Athletics
Joshua Jacobs, Vice President for Advancement
Michele Marra, Senior Vice President for Finance & Administrative Services
Tom Perry, Vice President for Communication and Brand Management
Scot Schaeffer, Vice President for Enrollment Management
Katy McDaniel, Chair, Faculty Council
Katie Kitchen, Student Body President
Debbie Wayland, Chair, Staff Council and Director of Human Resources
Monica Jones, Chief Diversity Officer
Aaron Cowdery, Chief Information Officer
Jim Weaver, Chief of Police