Boston College has announced several initiatives, 包括美国种族正义论坛和几个以信仰为导向的伙伴关系和项目, to address issues of race and racism in the United States.

Dean Vincent Rougeau

BC Law Dean Vincent Rougeau (Gary Wayne Gilbert)

These initiatives, 今年夏天早些时候,哥伦比亚大学校长威廉·P. Leahy, S.J., and senior administrators, come in the wake of an ongoing national expression of anger, concern, and frustration about race-related matters in the U.S. Provost and Dean of Faculties David Quigley, Vice President for Student Affairs Joy Moore, 以及负责大学使命和事工的副校长杰克·巴特勒, S.J., were the other signatories.

这封信将美国描述为“一个因种族问题长期紧张而分裂和受伤的国家”, police conduct, and civil liberties. The current anger, division, and alienation result from long-term, systemic causes, 他们呼吁通过立即和持续的行动解决根本问题.

“为了向前迈进,每个人都必须承认并肯定黑人的生命很重要.”

建立在学术界的遗产作为一个场所,探索引人注目的当代问题和关注, and developing effective responses, 在天主教社会教学的指导下,bc将寻求对美国种族和种族主义行为的讨论做出贡献, according to the announcement.

信中称电子游戏软件美国种族正义论坛提供了一个“倾听”的聚会场所, dialogue, 对我们国家的种族和种族主义有了更深入的了解, 尤其是应对当前挑战和规划更美好未来的想法.它还将成为“弥合美国种族差异”的催化剂, promoting reconciliation, and encouraging fresh perspectives.”

论坛将有几个组成部分:个人将分享他们的种族主义经历, police misconduct, job and housing discrimination, health care inequities, and wealth disparity; community and religious leaders, government officials, and members of law enforcement will be invited to comment on their efforts to foster community building and public safety in support of the common good; and participants will have the opportunity to describe their hopes and dreams for the future. In addition, the forum will sponsor speakers, panels, 以及关于种族问题的研讨会,以及需要改变的态度和结构, 鼓励对导致种族主义和种族主义行为的条件进行学术探索, and suggest responses and solutions.

不列颠哥伦比亚省法学院院长文森特·鲁格将担任论坛的首任主任, working closely with Fr. Leahy和BC高级领导层以及全国顾问委员会.

其他BC倡议将围绕信仰和培育而建立. 大学宣教和事工部将提供一系列多元信仰的服务,为当地社区和国家的治愈与和解祈祷, according to the announcement, 祈求上帝帮助我们克服种族主义的罪恶和后果, injustice, and violence.“校园事工将寻求与波士顿地区的信仰团体建立伙伴关系”,开展对话和社区服务活动,,并为中小学生创造机会,让他们与BC省的本科生就有关种族的经历和信仰进行讨论, community, justice, and the future.

BC大学的校际运动员也将“以新的方式接触波士顿大都市的年轻人,通过体育和学术建立联系并提供指导。.”

电子游戏软件最近宣布与松树庄园学院合并,并建立了松树庄园学生成功电子游戏正规平台所,作为招募和毕业代表性不足的一种手段, 第一代学生被认为是该校应对种族相关问题的另一个方面. 该电子游戏正规平台所将与BC大学现有的学术推广项目密切合作,进一步帮助松树庄园学院的学生在追求高等教育的过程中面临重大挑战,获得大学学位, the letter said, 注意到BC已经指定了5000万美元的捐赠来支持该电子游戏正规平台所的活动, and intends to seek additional funds from various sources.

大学认为自己通过长期致力于帮助学生参与核心问题和思想,为不断发展的种族和种族主义国家议程做出贡献, develop skills in analysis and critical thinking, and according to the statement, “become more whole, more human, and more free from ignorance and prejudice. 这些承诺促使电子游戏软件为种族正义而努力,并在整个课程中为学生和教师创造机会,通过一系列学科视角参与种族的学术探索.”

这封信还提到了现有的大学政策和资源,这些政策和资源帮助了代表性不足和服务不足的学生, 比如卑诗大学的“需求盲录取”政策,以及满足所有被录取本科生的充分需求, as well as the Thea Bowman AHANA Intercultural Center, Options through Education, Learning to Learn, and the Montserrat Coalition, 是什么帮助了无数学生在学业上和个人生活中茁壮成长, 最近一批符合佩尔资格的学生的毕业率为96%.  In addition, BC has joined QuestBridge, 这是一个备受尊敬的项目,涉及42所全国最好的学院和大学,帮助有才华和高经济需求的学生申请并获得其合作学校的录取.

要求大学社区就美国种族正义论坛和相关倡议提供“建议和支持”, 信中总结道:“一起努力,我们可以完成伟大的事业, and help Boston College, our nation, and the world be more just and more at peace.”

University Communications | July 2020