Dear Dyson students,

During this time of what would have been a celebratory occasion with graduation and the start of summer, we hope you are able to carve out time for self-care given the tragic and troubling events unfolding around the country in response to sustained systemic racism and the killings of Black people, most recently George Floyd, Ahmad Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and too many others before them, and amidst a pandemic that is disproportionately impacting people of color. We understand our words are coming from our different experiences and while we hurt deeply, we know the pain is felt at a much greater level for our students in the Black community.

To our students who are not Black, we ask that you please be aware of the pain, raw emotions, and racial and transgenerational trauma of your Black peers. Many of them are not okay. We encourage you to reach out to your friends to show that you care. You do not have to have the answers; it is important to be supportive. The Dyson Office of Diversity & Inclusion is starting a new student org focused on allyship. Please let us know if you’re interested here.

Systemic racism and oppression are ubiquitous and insidious and impact all of us. We recognize not everyone has the words or thoughts on what to do or say at this time, and awareness varies. We strongly encourage you to read through the list of articles and advice that shed light on how to be thoughtful while navigating these difficult times, as we know that many of us are having conversations that are challenging.

While we do not have the answers, we are committed to listening, learning, amplifying your voices, and being the best allies we can be. We are working on programming which will include a forum for students early next week, and will be hosting programs and drop-in hours in the Belonging @ Dyson community space and encourage you to use this space as a way to share your stories, your support, and ideas for change. We hope you will join these conversations and events, even if only as an active listener. Your presence sends a strong signal to everyone in our community who are feeling a range of emotions right now. We also echo President Pollack’s call for all faculty, staff, and students to read How to Be an Antiracist by National Book Award winner Ibram X. Kendi as a way to sustain a community conversation about racism.

We hope you are taking comfort in family, friends, and your individual faith traditions. If there is anything we can do for you, please let us know. You are all in our thoughts and even though we are physically apart, we are still here for you if you would like to connect. You can reach out to any of us directly to set up a time to talk individually.

Please give yourself grace at this time. Many of us are figuring this out. Stepping up to say “I want to learn” is important. At the risk of repeating ourselves, do your self-work. You are not alone. At Dyson, we believe that #BlackLivesMatter.
 

Stay safe and well,
 

The Dyson Student Experience Team
 

Jennifer Majka, Director of Diversity & Inclusion majka@cornell.edu

Andrea Poag, Director of Student Services alp232@cornell.edu

Tim Pasto, Director of Career Management tep3@cornell.edu

David Lennox, Director of Undergraduate Studies dpl29@cornell.edu
Timothy Oonk, Executive Director of Alumni Affairs and Development, tjo7@cornell.edu
Amy Newman, Senior Lecturer & Faculty Director, Grand Challenges@Dyson amynewman@cornell.edu
Donna Haeger, Professor of Practice, Director - Dyson Leadership, dlh266@cornell.edu
Nicole Heasley, Registrar & Assistant Director of Student Services nlh47@cornell.edu
Kaitlin Berry, Assistant Director of Student Services kab467@cornell.edu
Beth Perez, Academic Advisor, Assistant Director of Student Services ep429@cornell.edu
Gretchen C. Gilbert, Student Services Assistant gcg4@cornell.edu
Amber Lyn Richter, Event Coordinator, amber.richter@cornell.edu
Kim Sprought, Associate Director, Career Management Center, kms464@cornell.edu
Erin Brockway, Associate Director, Career Management Center, erin.brockway@cornell.edu
Catheryn Hayes, Operations Assistant, Career Management Center, cmh387@cornell.edu
 

LINKS TO STATEMENTS FROM UNIVERSITY & COLLEGE LEADERSHIP

• Immediate actions to support and strengthen our community
  President Martha E. Pollack
• Statement on the Recent Killings of Black People in America
  President Martha E. Pollack
• Statement from SC Johnson College of Business (here)
  Kevin F. Hallock, Dean of the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business
  Lynn Perry Wooten, Dean of the Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management
  Kate Walsh, Dean of the School of Hotel Administration
  Mark Nelson, Dean of the Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management
• Statement from Cornell CALS (here)
  Kathyrn Boor, Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences