June 1, 2020
Dear University of Wyoming Community:
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused unprecedented times, impacting us locally, regionally, nationally and globally. The pandemic has brought out the best in the University of Wyoming community, such as raising more than a half-million dollars to distribute emergency funds to students and implementing programs and services to support students, faculty and staff remotely. At the same time, we are also part of the community experiencing the worst of humanity that exacerbates this health and economic crisis, as the UW community lives here and abroad.
We bear witness to the horrifying legacies of historical injustices and inequities of racism that can lead to violence and death toward Black and Brown Americans, such as the recent murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Amaud Arbery. Our history is clouded with other such similarly senseless deaths that have resulted in the protests as seen last week and today.
We bear witness to the disparate impact of COVID-19 on Black, Brown, Native and Indigenous, elderly, poor, individuals with disabilities, and other vulnerable populations. We bear witness to an increase in racism toward Asians, other racial identities, antisemitism, homophobia, domestic violence, sexual violence and more that are worsened by the economic downturn and most significantly by the illnesses and deaths of family, friends, and people we know and care about due to COVID-19.
During these unprecedented times, let us remember our University of Wyoming values where racism, violence, sexual violence, antisemitism, homophobia, transphobia, sexism, ableism, national origin and other forms of disparate treatment, injustices and inequities are denounced. Let us stay committed to our resolve to educate our campus community to interrupt, stop and eliminate inequities, injustices and violence from our society at the local, regional, national and global levels. Let us resolve to be a united community regardless of social identities or beliefs.
We have support systems in place for the campus community through a variety of means. Please visit www.uwyo.edu/shser/corona-virus.html, where you can find resources for students, faculty and staff that can support us through this pandemic and the protests. The Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is hosting a third UW Employee Community Check-In focused on the protests, civic unrest, pandemic and any of your other concerns. Our website will be updated soon with more information at www.uwyo.edu/diversity. Feel free to email us at diversity@uwyo.edu if you have questions or seek more information.
Let us commit to emerging from these challenging times in solidarity, stronger and better than ever before.
Sincerely,
Emily Monago, Chief Diversity Officer
UW Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion