NDSU Community,
I want to provide an update about the protests that occurred on campus on Friday and Saturday which were sparked by the recent hate speech incidents on campus. These protests were powerful expressions of anger and frustration which brought forward voices that needed to be heard. I am thankful to members of the NDSU community who organized and attended the events.
Earlier this morning, some of the student organizers met with several senior administrators to help develop actionable ideas and timelines. In addition, moments ago, I charged the crisis task force with developing actionable ideas to help make NDSU more diverse and inclusive. The members of the task force are:
- Margaret Fitzgerald, Provost – Chair
- Canan Bilen-Green, Vice Provost for Faculty and Equity
- Laura Oster-Aaland, Vice Provost for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management
- Gregory Lardy, Vice President for Agricultural Affairs
- Rian Nostrum, Director of Residence Life
- Philip Hunt, Registrar
- Larry Napoleon, Assistant Professor School of Education
- Carrie Anne Platt, Associate Professor, Department of Communication
- Tara Nelson, Doctoral Grad Research Asst
- Florin Salajan, Assistant Professor School of Education and Faculty Senate President
- Margaret Latterell, Concert Facilities Manager and Staff Senate President
- Matthew Friedmann, Student Body President
- John Glover, President/CEO, NDSU Development Foundation and Alumni Association
- Rodkesha Brown, Undergraduate student
The intent is for this group to quickly gather information, spark positive discussion and formulate ideas to help NDSU respond as a campus community to these hate speech issues. If you have ideas, I would ask that you share them with members of this task force.
I understand that we have work to do. NDSU is not, and has never been, a perfect place, but we are committed to doing better. It will be hard work, but the NDSU community will do it together.