06/19/2020
Dear beloved students and esteemed alumni,
We, the Department of Biological Sciences at Barnard, are writing today with the following statement denouncing anti-black violence now being scrutinized because of recent events, and to begin more explicit and more regular discussion and initial actions aiming to change our biology department. As addressed by President Beilock, Barnard has work to do -- and we as a department are far from exempt. We write to you today, as part of our commitment to this work. We have begun a list of action items detailing where we will start, but it by no means can be considered complete without your input and participation. We encourage you to contact us -- not only with questions and concerns, but with your stories and experiences and ideas. Now, more than ever, it is imperative that we come together as a community, and that we uplift and uphold your voices in this much needed dialogue.
Please take care of yourselves and each other. We look forward to hearing from you.
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Our hearts are filled with sadness and outrage by the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and many other Black Americans whose deaths have been caused by racism and police brutality. The subsequent acts of violence against peaceful protesters who dared say their names further adds to our grief. Black Lives Matter. While we in the Department of Biological Sciences cannot fully understand the pain felt by our Black students, we want to say that we recognize the trauma and fear caused by recent events. We also acknowledge, however, that merely extending a statement of virtue signaling would be insufficient support. Police brutality is not an isolated instance of racism. Such injustice is perpetuated by years of systemic White supremacy, institutionalized oppression, and slavery rebranded as modern discrimination that has infected many aspects of our country. We are ashamed that higher education has not been immune from such racism. Now is the time for action and change.
What then, can we as a community do to make a difference against generations of inequality? The Department of Biological Sciences will begin at home. Here, at Barnard, in the halls of Altschul, we will endeavor to create a safe space for all students. We are committed to taking thoughtful and directed action together and educating ourselves on what we can do to support and uplift our Black students and other students of color. First, to open lines of communication, we will assemble a department-level working group of students, staff, and faculty to define what meaningful change would look like to students. With the mission of addressing the impact of racism on science and education, the group will meet monthly and generate action items to be considered in the areas of awareness, introductory course pedagogy, major curriculum, and faculty hiring. Second, to promote introspection, the faculty will convene a College-mandated Academic Program Review. External reviewers will specifically identify areas of racial bias, both conscious and unconscious. Third, to increase representation and celebrate the contributions of a wide-range of scholars, the Department will commit funding to a new seminar series that brings BIPOC scientific leaders to Biology. The speakers will address cutting-edge research as well as personal challenges faced in a career where the odds are stacked unfairly from the beginning.
These are beginning steps that we can take now in preparation for more. We encourage students to discuss these steps with faculty and staff; we are listening. We know that our community commitment to these efforts, much like the powerful voices of students fighting for justice and equity all over the United States, will grow over time to establish sustained and meaningful change.
Philip V. Ammirato
Elizabeth P. Bauer
Hilary Callahan
James Casey
Colin Flanagan
Melissa Flores
Nick Gershberg
John I. Glendinning
Jessica Goldstein
Paul E. Hertz
Chisa Hidaka, MD
Allison J. Lopatkin
Jennifer Mansfield
Jared Meek
JJ Miranda
Brian Morton
Basil Perkins
Ali Pischedda
Nicole Rondeau
Abigail Ryckman
Rish*ta Shah
Jonathan Snow
Stephen L. Sturley
Henry Truong
Louise Urien
