CEDI Statement of Solidarity and Commitment to Action

Dear Carleton Students, Faculty, and Staff,

The CEDI (Community, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion) Leadership Board stands in solidarity with the Black and Brown community at Carleton and all who mourn the brutal murder of George Floyd. We say his name along with those of Ahmaud Arbery, Iyanna Dior, Tony McDade, Nina Pop, Breonna Taylor and numerous others who have borne the brunt of racism and race-based violence inflicted by the systems of white supremacy and oppression in this country.

CEDI is a group of students, faculty, and staff that works to improve equity, diversity and inclusion in the campus community. CEDI strives to be attentive to community concerns, raising issues that are not attended to elsewhere on campus. Our mission is to give voice to student, faculty, and staff concerns. When appropriate, we help coordinate and connect the many efforts supporting equity, diversity, and inclusion on campus. 

Driven by our commitment to actively fight racism and other systemic inequalities, we will advocate for Black students and other students of color on this campus:

  • We will closely monitor progress being made to address the demands of the Black Student Alliance, African and Caribbean Association, Men of Color, and the Africana Studies Student Department Advisors, as the Tuesday Group has committed. We will also be attentive to CSA resolutions and individuals’ letters of concern.  We have reached out specifically to these student organizations and CSA to express support.
  • CEDI will form an Action Team, including faculty, staff, and students, to study and recommend an external entity to provide anti-racism training for faculty and staff, beginning in the 2020-21 academic year.
  • We have gathered information from our student talking circles. Other such opportunities will be organized for staff and faculty as well.
  • We will listen to community needs, identify major areas of concern, and collect ideas from the community for actions the College should consider.  We will form Action Teams made up of students, faculty, and staff to address these areas, as needed.

The CEDI Leadership Board will continue to meet during the summer with the aim of swiftly and fully implementing our action plan. Inspired by the dedicated work of students to address these issues over the past several weeks, we commit ourselves to this work wholeheartedly and look forward to engaging with the Carleton community in the months to come. 

To reach the CEDI Leadership Board with comments, questions, or interest in becoming involved with these efforts, please email cedi@carleton.edu or any of the individuals listed below.

Sincerely,

The CEDI Leadership Board

Rhemi Abrams-Fuller (staff co-chair), Éva Pósfay (faculty co-chair), Chris Dallager, Babi De Melo Lemos ’21, Carolyn Fure-Slocum, Danny Mathews, Jen McMurray, Al Montero, Steve Richardson (staff co-chair elect), Laura Riehle-Merrill, Asuka Sango, Prathi Seneviratne, Lena Stein ’21, Jay Tasson, Miiko Taylor, Trey Williams, Brisa Zubia, Elise Eslinger (Advisor)