Communications from the Vice President

 

June 10, 2020
Black Out Wednesday
Dear Colleagues Below, please find recommendations for Black Out Wednesday. Since we are a community that values knowledge production and lifelong learning, I recommend that we use the time to become more informed, and also to act in appropriately courageous ways. Begin with the questions and tips below:What do we know about anti-blackness and anti-racism? How are we complicit in perpetuating it?
June 8, 2020
Marching Forever, But Going Nowhere
Reprinted from the Register-GuardOpinion: Posted Jun 7, 2020 at 12:01 AMFor centuries, black people have been the proverbial canaries of the American coal mine, literally sacrificing their lives to warn others of toxic conditions that must be cleared to ensure abundant and healthy lives. COVID-19 has made more commonplace, throughout America, the death and trauma that are all too familiar in our ghettos, reservations and barrios, with its heaviest toll being among people of color and women.
April 28, 2020
ADPI Heritage Month in the Midst of COVID-19
As the world continues to feel the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are seeing an emboldened anti-Asian sentiment sweep throughout the country, despite the fact that Asian Americans are overrepresented on the front lines fighting COVID-19. This story, unfortunately, isn’t new, but it’s a reminder of the importance of learning about and celebrating the historical contributions of ADPI communities, both this month and all throughout the year. During this watershed moment in American history, Asian, Desi, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month takes on even more importance.
April 21, 2020
Gratitude, Student Success for all and Faculty Selfcare: A message to faculty
Dear Colleagues:As a tenured faculty colleague who is currently teaching a course in our School of Law, I’ve experienced firsthand the panic of suddenly transitioning to the remote-teaching environment in mid-semester. I want to echo the messages of gratitude from President Schill and Provost Phillips, and offer my appreciation for all of the sacrifices that you are already making to ensure that all of our students continue to receive a high-quality education at the UO.
March 20, 2020
Sense of Purpose during the COVID-19 Crisis: A Message from DEI VP Yvette Alex-Assensoh
Dear Colleagues and Community Members,We have been presented an opportunity to focus our energy on a sense of purpose.
October 18, 2019
Utilizing Native American Heritage Month as a Tool for Culture Change By Yvette Alex-Assensoh, Vice President, Division of Equity and Inclusion, November 2019
As we celebrate Native American Heritage Month, history is an especially pertinent subject for Oregonians. This is the first year that Oregon schools will be required to teach tribal history and life experiences as a result of 2017’s Senate Bill 13. As schools work with Oregon tribes to create curriculum, it’s important for institutions like the University of Oregon to use our platform to support these efforts towards positive culture change, both by promoting tribal history throughout the year and utilizing celebrations like NAHM in particular.
September 9, 2019
Latinx Heritage Month 2019 by Vice President Yvette Alex-Assensoh
The UO Honors Latinx Heritage Month 2019By Yvette Alex-Assensoh, Vice President for the Division of Equity and InclusionSeptember 2019
July 30, 2019
A Message regarding the senseless violence in New Zealand
Dear Colleagues, Following the horrible, senseless violence in New Zealand, we felt it was important to reach out to the campus community. The University of Oregon stands in support of the Muslim community and the people of Christchurch in the aftermath of the shootings at three mosques.
July 30, 2019
A Message regarding the senseless shooting at the Chabad Synagogue in Poway, California
Dear Colleagues, Unquestionably, the recent horrific and senseless shooting at the Chabad Synagogue in Poway, California during the memorial service on the last day of Passover, was a very clear reminder of the evil of hate crime perpetrated in the name of White Supremacy.
September 21, 2018
The Equalizing Force of History
History is a great equalizer. It cuts through rhetoric and propaganda with the mere presence of the truth. During these times where the people in the highest levels of politics and law enforcement are increasingly and vindictively targeting the Latinx community, celebrations like Latinx Heritage Month take on that much more significance.