Message from Eccles School leadership: We’re all in this together

Our hearts weigh heavy by the acts of racism that we have witnessed. The tragic deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery, as well the national outcry in response remind us of the persistent injustice that threatens the lives of Black people across our country. We all have experienced fear and uncertainly because of COVID-19, however, the anger and trauma, fear and frustration felt by many — especially our black students, staff, and faculty — is profound.

We deplore these acts and want to be clear that there is no place for intolerance, hate, or racism in our Eccles School community. As a society, we must do better, and we know that working together, engaging in difficult conversations about race, and sharing resources will only strengthen our community. We welcome your ideas on ways to make our campus more welcoming and safe for everyone. Please share your thoughts with us here. We commit to doing our own research and educating ourselves on ways we can do better. We are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion at our school and to a compassionate, equitable, and just society for everyone.

Empathy is one of our core values here at the Eccles School, and we recognize that many members of both our school community and our larger community are deeply impacted by these events. We know our campus partners are engaged in having a larger conversation to find answers, and we as an Eccles School community are committed to both engaging in that conversation and to amplifying the voices of those who are marginalized.

We have resources for our students to find the support they need through these challenging times. The Office for Student Inclusion strives to cultivate an inclusive environment through the development of student and community-focused initiatives. OSI is committed to ensuring all forms of diversity are understood and valued. Students can access support by emailing StudentInclusion@Eccles.Utah.edu. The University of Utah Counseling Center also has resources available. Please don’t suffer alone in silence.

We’re all in this together.