The Solidarity Statement and Action Plan below was written, circulated, and signed in advance of University President Rev. William P. Leahy, S.J.’s letter to the BC community on June 10. The statement immediately below was written by members of Faculty for Justice after the release of Leahy’s letter. Faculty for Justice is comprised of faculty from the Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences, School of Social Work, Woods College of Advancing Studies, Carroll School of Management, BC Law School, the Connell School of Nursing, the Lynch School of Education and Human Development, and the School of Theology and Ministry.
President Leahy has announced steps the University intends to take to combat the scourge of racism in our country, including the momentous establishment of the Boston College Forum on Racial Justice and contributions of the Pine Manor Institute for Student Success. We applaud these meaningful steps and direct the administration’s attention to our invitation to begin the forum’s work in September by first addressing the structure and strategies of ensuring public safety on our own campus.
SOLIDARITY STATEMENT AND ACTION PLAN (June 10, 2020)
To the Boston College Community,
We are faculty and staff at Boston College who grieve with and as members of the Black and African American community in response to the latest police killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Tony McDade, and the lynching of Ahmaud Arbery. These brutal murders exemplify the devastating effects of the deeper systemic and institutional racism that pervade our police forces, legal systems, educational systems, and broader social, political, and economic institutions. We stand in solidarity with those protesting the combined forces of police brutality, anti-Black racism, and white supremacy nationwide. And we challenge ourselves and all others in our institution to take action to redress the centuries-long but persistent subjugation and oppression produced by those forces.
Father Leahy wrote in his June 2 letter that “reflecting its Jesuit, Catholic heritage, Boston College insists that everyone should be treated with dignity, respect, and grace,” declaring that “hatred and racism have no place anywhere” and that “we are called to challenge such behavior when manifested not only in our community but also in our nation and world.” Out of concern for our entire BC community, and especially our Black and other community members of color, we call on everyone in our BC community to come together to continue the conversation, while also taking actions that embody and reflect the stated mission and commitments of the University.
What is needed are concrete commitments by University leadership that address the specific concerns raised not only by protesters on our streets, but by those within our community who have challenged the institution to adopt anti-racist pedagogies and practices. These concerns focus first on the long history of public and private violence against the Black and African American community, seeded and furthered by systems of surveillance, disenfranchisement, and dehumanization. We call for the following actions designed to respond directly to those concerns, and to ensure the safety and well-being of Black students, faculty, and staff on our campus.
1) Commit to aligning the response of this Jesuit-inspired community with the calls of the oppressed as expressed in the demands of the Black Lives Matter movement by engaging in a robust, inclusive, community-wide examination of policing at BC with the goal of creating a safe, welcoming, and just environment for all members of our community.
Among the issues to be considered should include: de-deputizing the BC Police Department; addressing racial and ethnic profiling on campus; inclusive and effective civilian reviewing of police misconduct; promoting nonviolent de-escalation tactics; improving training and policies around implicit bias; and granting the public access to data on disciplinary matters related to the BCPD. This community-wide review might also consider defunding BCPD, or alternately, reducing police presence on campus while funding emergency-response teams staffed by professionals such as social workers, mental health professionals, EMTs, and so forth. As a first step, the University should convene a community meeting in September with BCPD Chief Bill Evans in which students, faculty, and staff can air their concerns.
2) Commit to increasing the racial diversity at BC at all levels (students, staff, and all levels of faculty and administration). Provide increased financial support and fellowships for Black and other underrepresented students so that their representation at BC reflects the demographics of the city.
3) Give students, faculty, and staff the right to gather freely and express their views without the need for getting permits ahead of time.
4) Provide resources to engage faculty for developing anti-racist and inclusive pedagogies and research methodologies in our courses and our scholarship.
5) Expand resources to concretely support the AHANA+ population at BC based on consultation with AHANA+ students, faculty, and staff.
6) Publicize these efforts, so the BC community is aware of how resources are being allocated and why.
BC Faculty for JusticeTreseanne K. Ainsworth, Associate Dean, EnglishClaire Johnson Allen, Associate Director, Women’s CenterEmrah Altindis, Assistant Professor, BiologySergio Alvarez, Associate Professor, Computer ScienceJohn Anderson, Associate Professor of the Practice, EnglishLynne Anderson, Director, English Language Learning, EnglishAnonymous, AnonymousAnonymous, AnonymousAnonymous, HistoryAnonymous, Lynch School of Education and Human DevelopmentAnonymous, StaffAnonymous, StaffElizabeth Antus, Assistant Professor of the Practice, TheologyGrace Arenas, Adjunct Faculty, EnglishKaren Arnold, Associate Professor, Lynch School of Education and Human DevelopmentSamir Aslane, Administrative Assistant, Lynch School of Education and Human DevelopmentSarah Babb, Professor, SociologyKarl Baden, Associate Professor of the Practice, Art, Art History, and FilmAlice B. Baker, Gift Management and Reporting AssistantAndrew Barksdale, Career Advisor, Carroll School of ManagementMelissa Bartholomew, Part-Time Faculty, BC Law SchoolAlexander Barton, Interim Coordinator, Administrative and Technology Resources, BC Law SchoolAvi Bauer, Digital Initiatives and Scholarly Communication Specialist, BC Law LibraryJuliana Belding, Associate Professor of the Practice, MathematicsSuzanne Berne, Adjunct Faculty, EnglishMary Bilder, Professor, BC Law SchoolJoan Blum, Associate Professor of the Practice, BC Law SchoolAngela Boatman, Associate Professor, Lynch School of Education and Human DevelopmentAmy Boesky, Chair and Professor, EnglishKristen Bottema-Beutel, Associate Professor, Lynch School of Education and Human DevelopmentJordan Bradford, Technology Consultant, BC Law School (GMCAS ’17, GCSOM ’23)Cheryl Bratt, Professor of the Practice, BC Law SchoolKaren Breda, Legal Information Librarian and Lecturer, BC Law SchoolMarcus Breen, Assistant Professor of the Practice, CommunicationKris Brewer, Part-Time Faculty, Art, Art History, and Film Scott Britton, Associate University Librarian for Public ServicesMark Brodin, Professor, BC Law SchoolGeorge Brown, Professor, BC Law SchoolNathaniel J. S. Brown, Associate Research Professor of Measurement, Evaluation, Statistics, and Assessment, Lynch School of Education and Human DevelopmentMaria Estela Brisk, Professor, Lynch School of Education and Human Development (emeritus)Kenneth Burch, Professor, PhysicsKayla Burt, Assistant Director, Admissions, School of Theology and MinistryAurelia Campbell, Associate Professor, Art HistoryJoel Carlton-Gysan, Associate Director of Gift Planning, University AdvancementJane Cassidy, Assistant Professor, Art, Art History, and Film Andrés Castro Samayoa, Assistant Professor, Lynch School of Education and Human DevelopmentDawei Chen, Associate Professor, MathematicsVincent Cho, Associate Professor, Lynch School of Education and Human DevelopmentCandice Chrysostom, Senior Business Systems Analyst Alexandra Clark, Development Assistant, University AdvancementPeter Clote, Professor, BiologyJennifer Cohen, Associate Director, Major Giving, University AdvancementAlston Conley, Assistant Professor of the Practice, Art, Art History, and FilmMark Cooper, Professor of the Practice, Art, Art History, and FilmAndy Crow, Assistant Professor, EnglishAllison Curseen, Assistant Professor, English and African and African Diaspora StudiesJeffrey DaCosta, Assistant Professor of the Practice, BiologyNawa Dahal, Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, Weston ObservatoryKyrah Malika Daniels, Assistant Professor, Art History and African and African Diaspora StudiesAndrew Davis, Associate Professor, Old Testament, School of Theology and MinistryLaurel Davis, Legal Information Librarian and Lecturer in Law, BC Law SchoolMaria De Rosa, Associate Professor of the Practice, EnglishHans de Wit, Director, Center for International Higher EducationRenee DeCesare, Executive Director and Senior Philanthropic Advisor, Schools and Programs, University AdvancementAngela Demehri, Staff Psychiatrist, University Counseling ServicesBrian Denning, Associate Director of Major Gifts, University AdvancementCharles Derber, Professor, SociologyClaire Donohue, Assistant Clinical Professor, BC Law SchoolEileen Donovan-Kranz, Associate Professor of the Practice, EnglishGawain Dornelly, Staff, Boston CollegeNatasha Dunlap, Graduate AssistantFred Enman, S.J., Adjunct Chaplain, BC Law SchoolCatherine Enwright, Ph.D. Candidate, EnglishJennifer Erickson, Associate Professor, Political ScienceRachel Ernst, Adjunct Faculty, EnglishKeiseena Evans, Staff, Associate Dean’s OfficeEthan Farber, Teaching Fellow, MathematicsDaniel Farbman, Assistant Professor, BC Law SchoolArlene Feinberg, Staff, Bapst LibraryCurtis Finkley, Landscape ServicesRobin Fleming, Professor, HistoryIsmael Fofana, Assistant Professor of the Practice, BiologyEric Folker, Associate Professor, BiologyTiffeni Fontno, Head Librarian, Educational Resource CenterBetsy Fountain, Associate Director of Major Giving, University AdvancementBecky Franckle, Assistant Professor of the Practice, Program in Global Public Health and the Common GoodKate Frenette, Library Assistant, BC Law LibraryGregory Fried, Professor, PhilosophyJulie Gagnon, Administrative Assistant, Marketing, Carroll School of ManagementFrank Garcia, Professor, BC Law SchoolJames Gardner, Learning Designer, Center for Digital Innovation in LearningEmily Gates, Assistant Professor, Lynch School of Education and Human DevelopmentYonder Gillihan, Associate Professor, TheologyEllen Goldstein, Assistant Professor of the Practice, MathematicsMatthew Goode, Assistant Director, Center for Teaching ExcellenceMichael Goodman, Web, Social Media and Events Support Specialist, Lynch School of Education and Human DevelopmentLindsay Gordon, Associate Director, University AdvancementSamantha Gordon (’16), Assistant Director of Residential LifeAndrew Grant, Visiting Assistant Professor, International StudiesElizabeth Graver, Professor, EnglishKent Greenfield, Professor, BC Law SchoolJ. Elisenda Grigsby, Professor, MathematicsStacy Grooters, Executive Director, Center for Teaching ExcellenceMichelle Grossfield, Public Interest and Pro Bono Program Director, BC Law SchoolHiba Hafiz, Assistant Professor, BC Law SchoolLaura Hake, Associate Professor, BiologyLori Harrison-Kahan, Associate Professor of the Practice, EnglishMichaelyn Hartmann, Part-Time Faculty, BiologyEllen Healy, Associate Director for Learning Technologies, Center for Digital Innovation in LearningPeter Hess, Learning Technologies Administrator, Center for Digital Innovation in LearningKristin Heyer, Professor, Theological Ethics, TheologyMary Ann Hinsdale, Associate Professor, TheologyZina Hodge, Associate Director, Field Placement and Outreach, Lynch School of Education and Human DevelopmentCharles Hoffman, Professor, BiologyGail Hoffman, Associate Professor, Classics and Fine ArtsMary Holper, Associate Clinical Professor, BC Law SchoolAnne Homza, Assistant Professor of the Practice, Lynch School of Education and Human DevelopmentLauren Honig, Assistant Professor, Political ScienceJonathan Howard, Assistant Professor, EnglishMarjorie Howes, Associate Professor, EnglishThomas Hulse, Visiting Assistant Professor, MathematicsKim Humphrey; Instructional Designer, Center for Teaching Excellence; Ph.D. Candidate, TheologyAeron Hunt, Associate Professor, EnglishIngu Hwang, Korea Foundation Visiting Assistant Professor, International Studies Program and HistoryKristin Imre, Adjunct Faculty, EnglishPenelope Ismay, Associate Professor, HistoryMary Jo Iozzio, Professor, Moral Theology, BC School of Theology and MinistryYvonne Jenkins, Senior Staff Psychologist, University Counseling ServicesMarilynn S. Johnson, Professor, HistoryRenee Jones, Professor and Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, BC Law SchoolAndrew Jorgenson, Professor, SociologyAli Kadivar, Assistant Professor, SociologySusan Simone Kang, Adjunct Professor, Director of International Programs, BC Law SchoolDaniel Kanstroom, Professor, BC LawThomas Kaplan-Maxfield, Associate Professor of the Practice, EnglishChristopher Kenaley, Assistant Professor of the Practice, BiologyStacie Kent, Assistant Professor, HistoryAmanda Kenyon, Admissions, BC Law SchoolNate Kenyon, Director, Marketing and Communications, BC Law SchoolLisa Kessler, Part-Time Faculty, Art, Art History, and FilmClara Kim, Media Production Graduate Assistant, Center for Digital Innovation in LearningJeeuhn Kim, Doctoral Student, MathematicsMin Jung Kim, Digital Learning SpecialistNam Wook Kim, Assistant Professor, Computer ScienceOh Myo Kim, Associate Professor of the Practice, Lynch School of Education and Human DevelopmentDan Kirschner, Professor, Biology (emeritus)Mark Kleinschnittger, Manager, Recruitment and Operations, BC Law SchoolKhalid Kodi, Adjunct Faculty, Art, Art History, and FilmSteve Koh, Marianne D. Short and Ray Skowyra Sesquicentennial Assistant Professor, BC Law SchoolAmanda Labriola, Adjunct Faculty, EnglishHelen Lacouture, Associate Law Librarian for Collection Services and Digital Initiatives, BC Law SchoolRobert Lehman, Associate Professor, EnglishTheodore Lehre, Ph.D. Candidate and Teaching Fellow, EnglishRebecca Levine Coley, Professor and Chair, Counseling, Developmental and Educational PsychologyRamsay Liem, Professor Emeritus of Psychology and Visiting Scholar, Center for Human Rights and International JusticeTim Lindgren, Senior Learning Experience Designer, Center for Digital Innovation in LearningLM, FacultyBrian Loane, Graduate Student, EnglishMaria Lockheardt, Director of International Advancement, University AdvancementJohn Logan, Development Assistant, University AdvancementVicki Losick, Assistant Professor, BiologyRebecca Lowenhaupt, Associate Professor, Lynch School of Education and Human DevelopmentM. Brinton Lykes, Professor, Psychology, Lynch School of Education and Human Development; Co-Director, Center for Human Rights and International JusticeCynthia Lyerly, Associate Professor, HistoryJulie MacEvoy, Associate Professor of the Practice, Lynch School of Education and Human DevelopmentKeerthi Madapusi Pera, Assistant Professor, MathematicsRay Madoff, Professor, BC Law SchoolMichael Malec, Associate Professor, Sociology (emeritus)Timothy Mangin, Assistant Professor, MusicPaula Mathieu, Associate Professor, English Zachary Matus, Associate Professor, HistoryMaia McAleavey, Associate Professor, EnglishLauren McCauslin, Director, Alumni Class and School EngagementSarah McMenamin, Assistant Professor, BiologyJudith A. McMorrow, Professor and Associate Dean of Experiential Learning and Global Engagement, BC Law SchoolKatherine McNeill, Professor, Science Education, Lynch School of Education and Human DevelopmentPatrick McQuillan, Associate Professor, Lynch School of Education and Human DevelopmentShawn D. McShay, Graduate Enrollment Management, BC Law SchoolSaoirse McSharry, Adjunct Faculty, BiologyMatthew Mersky, Ph.D. Candidate, EnglishAndrew Miller, Assistant Professor, Lynch School of Education and Human DevelopmentDorothy Miller, Adjunct Professor, EnglishKaren K. Miller, Associate Professor of the Practice, HistoryFrancesca Minonne, Assistant Director, Center for Teaching ExcellenceRebekah Mitsein, Assistant Professor, EnglishYajun Mo, Assistant Professor, HistoryBabak Momeni, Assistant Professor, BiologyCatherine Mooney, Associate Professor, School of Theology and MinistrySara Moorman, Associate Professor, SociologyGreer Muldowney, Assistant Professor of the Practice, Art, Art History, and Film Colleen Murphy, Associate Director, University AdvancementMichael Noone, Professor and Chair, MusicKelsey Norwood, StaffKevin O’Neill, Associate Professor, HistoryArissa Oh, Associate Professor, HistoryHeather Olins, Assistant Professor of the Practice, BiologyGabrielle Oliveira, Assistant Professor, Lynch School of Education and Human DevelopmentHosffman Ospino, Associate Professor, School of Theology and MinistryPatrick Orson, Visiting Assistant Professor, MathematicsZinnia Owen Smith, Academic Support Assistant, BC Law SchoolErik Owens, Director, International Studies Program; Associate Professor of the Practice, Theology DepartmentMariela Paez, Associate Professor, Lynch School of Education and Human DevelopmentHilary Palevsky, Assistant Professor, Earth and Environmental SciencesPrasannan Parthasarathi, Professor, HistoryRupal Patel, BC Director of Program InnovationMaria Pestana, Staff, BC Career CenterKristin Peterson, Assistant Professor, CommunicationDeborah Piatelli, Part-Time Faculty, SociologyStephen Pfohl, Professor, SociologyJill Pickener, Assistant Director, Office of Undergraduate Programs, Lynch School of Education and Human DevelopmentLarry Pickener, Associate Director, Education AbroadÁngeles Picone, Assistant Professor, HistoryZygmunt Plater, Professor, BC Law SchoolRezy Pradipta, Research Scientist, Institute for Scientific ResearchPatrick Proctor, Professor, Lynch School of Education and Human DevelopmentJennie Purnell, Associate Professor, Political ScienceUntara Rayeesa, Adjunct Faculty, EnglishKatie Rapier, Assistant Professor, PhilosophyCharles Redmond, Adjunct Faculty, EnglishRobert Reed, Assistant Professor of the Practice, MathematicsVirginia Reinburg, Professor, HistoryMichael Resler, Professor, German StudiesAna Rivera, Visiting Professor, BC Law SchoolCarson Rogers, Visiting Assistant Professor, MathematicsKylie Rolincik, Adjunct Professor, Screenwriting and Film StudiesMichelle Ronty, Associate Director, Major Giving, University AdvancementSarah Gwyneth Ross, Professor, HistoryHeather Rowan-Kenyon, Associate Professor, Lynch School of Education and Human DevelopmentBonnie Rudner, Professor of the Practice, EnglishMatt Rutledge, Associate Professor of the Practice, EconomicsDana Sajdi, Associate Professor, HistoryBrian Salerno, Director of Learning Design, Center for Digital Innovation in LearningSamuel Sanchez, Associate Director of Admissions and Financial Aid, Lynch School of Education and Human DevelopmentDoug Saphire, Director of Recruitment and Employer Outreach, BC Law SchoolEvangeline Sarda, Associate Clinical Law Professor, BC Law SchoolMartin Scanlan, Associate Professor, Lynch School of Education and Human DevelopmentDavid Scanlon, Associate Professor, Lynch School of Education and Human DevelopmentJuliet Schor, Professor, SociologyCraig Schroeder, Associate Director, Major Giving, University AdvancementScott Seider, Associate Professor, Lynch School of Education and Human DevelopmentSilvia Sellers-García, Associate Professor, History Franziska Serpahim, Associate Professor, HistoryKaplana Seshadri, Professor, EnglishNatalia Sarkisian, Associate Professor, SociologyFrancine Sherman, Clinical Professor, BC Law SchoolMary Sherman, Adjunct Faculty, Art, Art History, and Film Dennis Shirley, Professor, Lynch School of Education and Human DevelopmentPaul Sinclair, Boston College HVAC DepartmentJoshua Snyder, Director of Faith, Peace, and Justice Minor, TheologyAndrew Sofer, Professor, EnglishMin Song, Professor, EnglishXimena Soto, BC School of Social Work Assistant Director of the Latinx Leadership InitiativeBrian Sousa, Adjunct Instructor, EnglishEve Spangler, Associate Professor, SociologyRobert Stanton, Associate Professor, EnglishEv Stefanakos, Ph.D. Candidate, EnglishMartin Summers, Professor, History and African and African Diaspora StudiesEileen Sweeney, Professor, PhilosophyMeghan Sweeney, Associate Professor of the Practice, PULSE Program and TheologyKari Tannenbaum, Visiting Professor, BC Law SchoolLaura Tanner, Professor, EnglishSandy Tarrant, Visiting Associate Clinical Professor of Law, BC Law SchoolMarija Tesla, Staff, BC Law SchoolLeonardo Torres, Assistant Director, Aquatics and Instructional ProgramsPaul Tremblay, Clinical Professor and Dean’s Distinguished Scholar, BC Law SchoolMaria Tringale, Director, University AdvancementUsha Tummala-Narra, Professor, Counseling, Developmental and Educational Psychology, Lynch School of Education and Human DevelopmentKaitlyn Tuthill, Director of Assessment, Lynch School of Education and Human DevelopmentKeisha Valdez, Senior Learning Experience Designer, Center for Digital Innovation in LearningConevery Valencius, Professor, HistoryO. Ernesto Valiente, Associate Professor, Systematic TheologyMaureen Van Neste, Assistant Professor of the Practice, BC Law SchoolMalachi Van Nice, Media Graduate Assistant, Center for Digital Innovation in LearningAnjali Vats, Associate Professor, Communication and African and African Diaspora StudiesJamie Walker, Learning Technologies Administrator, Center for Digital Innovation in LearningJason Wallace, Employee, Boston CollegeJon Wargo, Assistant Professor, Lynch School of Education and Human DevelopmentDouglas Warner, Director of Laboratories, BiologyEric Weiskott, Associate Professor, EnglishJames Weiss, Associate Professor, Theology; Director, Capstone ProgramDanielle Wells, Associate Director, Office of Undergraduate AdmissionsDavid Wirth, Professor, BC Law SchoolCatherine Wong, Director of Urban Outreach Initiatives, Lynch School of Education and Human DevelopmentJessy Yang, Adjunct Faculty, Art, Art History, and FilmAlfred Yen, Professor and Dean’s Distinguished Scholar, BC Law SchoolLiane Young, Associate Professor, PsychologyShannon Poppe Zaruba, Resident Director, BC Residential LifeLing Zhang, Associate Professor, HistoryBrian Zimmerman, Adjunct Faculty, English