The Solidarity Statement and Action Plan below was written, circulated, and signed in advance of University President Rev. William P. Leahy, S.J.’s letter to the BC community on June 10. The statement immediately below was written by members of Faculty for Justice after the release of Leahy’s letter. Faculty for Justice is comprised of faculty from the Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences, School of Social Work, Woods College of Advancing Studies, Carroll School of Management, BC Law School, the Connell School of Nursing, the Lynch School of Education and Human Development, and the School of Theology and Ministry.
President Leahy has announced steps the University intends to take to combat the scourge of racism in our country, including the momentous establishment of the Boston College Forum on Racial Justice and contributions of the Pine Manor Institute for Student Success. We applaud these meaningful steps and direct the administration’s attention to our invitation to begin the forum’s work in September by first addressing the structure and strategies of ensuring public safety on our own campus.
SOLIDARITY STATEMENT AND ACTION PLAN (June 10, 2020)
To the Boston College Community,
We are faculty and staff at Boston College who grieve with and as members of the Black and African American community in response to the latest police killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Tony McDade, and the lynching of Ahmaud Arbery. These brutal murders exemplify the devastating effects of the deeper systemic and institutional racism that pervade our police forces, legal systems, educational systems, and broader social, political, and economic institutions. We stand in solidarity with those protesting the combined forces of police brutality, anti-Black racism, and white supremacy nationwide. And we challenge ourselves and all others in our institution to take action to redress the centuries-long but persistent subjugation and oppression produced by those forces.
Father Leahy wrote in his June 2 letter that “reflecting its Jesuit, Catholic heritage, Boston College insists that everyone should be treated with dignity, respect, and grace,” declaring that “hatred and racism have no place anywhere” and that “we are called to challenge such behavior when manifested not only in our community but also in our nation and world.” Out of concern for our entire BC community, and especially our Black and other community members of color, we call on everyone in our BC community to come together to continue the conversation, while also taking actions that embody and reflect the stated mission and commitments of the University.
What is needed are concrete commitments by University leadership that address the specific concerns raised not only by protesters on our streets, but by those within our community who have challenged the institution to adopt anti-racist pedagogies and practices. These concerns focus first on the long history of public and private violence against the Black and African American community, seeded and furthered by systems of surveillance, disenfranchisement, and dehumanization. We call for the following actions designed to respond directly to those concerns, and to ensure the safety and well-being of Black students, faculty, and staff on our campus.
1) Commit to aligning the response of this Jesuit-inspired community with the calls of the oppressed as expressed in the demands of the Black Lives Matter movement by engaging in a robust, inclusive, community-wide examination of policing at BC with the goal of creating a safe, welcoming, and just environment for all members of our community.
Among the issues to be considered should include: de-deputizing the BC Police Department; addressing racial and ethnic profiling on campus; inclusive and effective civilian reviewing of police misconduct; promoting nonviolent de-escalation tactics; improving training and policies around implicit bias; and granting the public access to data on disciplinary matters related to the BCPD. This community-wide review might also consider defunding BCPD, or alternately, reducing police presence on campus while funding emergency-response teams staffed by professionals such as social workers, mental health professionals, EMTs, and so forth. As a first step, the University should convene a community meeting in September with BCPD Chief Bill Evans in which students, faculty, and staff can air their concerns.
2) Commit to increasing the racial diversity at BC at all levels (students, staff, and all levels of faculty and administration). Provide increased financial support and fellowships for Black and other underrepresented students so that their representation at BC reflects the demographics of the city.
3) Give students, faculty, and staff the right to gather freely and express their views without the need for getting permits ahead of time.
4) Provide resources to engage faculty for developing anti-racist and inclusive pedagogies and research methodologies in our courses and our scholarship.
5) Expand resources to concretely support the AHANA+ population at BC based on consultation with AHANA+ students, faculty, and staff.
6) Publicize these efforts, so the BC community is aware of how resources are being allocated and why.
- BC Faculty for Justice
- Treseanne K. Ainsworth, Associate Dean, English
- Claire Johnson Allen, Associate Director, Women’s Center
- Emrah Altindis, Assistant Professor, Biology
- Sergio Alvarez, Associate Professor, Computer Science
- John Anderson, Associate Professor of the Practice, English
- Lynne Anderson, Director, English Language Learning, English
- Anonymous, Anonymous
- Anonymous, Anonymous
- Anonymous, History
- Anonymous, Lynch School of Education and Human Development
- Anonymous, Staff
- Anonymous, Staff
- Elizabeth Antus, Assistant Professor of the Practice, Theology
- Grace Arenas, Adjunct Faculty, English
- Karen Arnold, Associate Professor, Lynch School of Education and Human Development
- Samir Aslane, Administrative Assistant, Lynch School of Education and Human Development
- Sarah Babb, Professor, Sociology
- Karl Baden, Associate Professor of the Practice, Art, Art History, and Film
- Alice B. Baker, Gift Management and Reporting Assistant
- Andrew Barksdale, Career Advisor, Carroll School of Management
- Melissa Bartholomew, Part-Time Faculty, BC Law School
- Alexander Barton, Interim Coordinator, Administrative and Technology Resources, BC Law School
- Avi Bauer, Digital Initiatives and Scholarly Communication Specialist, BC Law Library
- Juliana Belding, Associate Professor of the Practice, Mathematics
- Suzanne Berne, Adjunct Faculty, English
- Mary Bilder, Professor, BC Law School
- Joan Blum, Associate Professor of the Practice, BC Law School
- Angela Boatman, Associate Professor, Lynch School of Education and Human Development
- Amy Boesky, Chair and Professor, English
- Kristen Bottema-Beutel, Associate Professor, Lynch School of Education and Human Development
- Jordan Bradford, Technology Consultant, BC Law School (GMCAS ’17, GCSOM ’23)
- Cheryl Bratt, Professor of the Practice, BC Law School
- Karen Breda, Legal Information Librarian and Lecturer, BC Law School
- Marcus Breen, Assistant Professor of the Practice, Communication
- Kris Brewer, Part-Time Faculty, Art, Art History, and Film
- Scott Britton, Associate University Librarian for Public Services
- Mark Brodin, Professor, BC Law School
- George Brown, Professor, BC Law School
- Nathaniel J. S. Brown, Associate Research Professor of Measurement, Evaluation, Statistics, and Assessment, Lynch School of Education and Human Development
- Maria Estela Brisk, Professor, Lynch School of Education and Human Development (emeritus)
- Kenneth Burch, Professor, Physics
- Kayla Burt, Assistant Director, Admissions, School of Theology and Ministry
- Aurelia Campbell, Associate Professor, Art History
- Joel Carlton-Gysan, Associate Director of Gift Planning, University Advancement
- Jane Cassidy, Assistant Professor, Art, Art History, and Film
- Andrés Castro Samayoa, Assistant Professor, Lynch School of Education and Human Development
- Dawei Chen, Associate Professor, Mathematics
- Vincent Cho, Associate Professor, Lynch School of Education and Human Development
- Candice Chrysostom, Senior Business Systems Analyst
- Alexandra Clark, Development Assistant, University Advancement
- Peter Clote, Professor, Biology
- Jennifer Cohen, Associate Director, Major Giving, University Advancement
- Alston Conley, Assistant Professor of the Practice, Art, Art History, and Film
- Mark Cooper, Professor of the Practice, Art, Art History, and Film
- Andy Crow, Assistant Professor, English
- Allison Curseen, Assistant Professor, English and African and African Diaspora Studies
- Jeffrey DaCosta, Assistant Professor of the Practice, Biology
- Nawa Dahal, Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, Weston Observatory
- Kyrah Malika Daniels, Assistant Professor, Art History and African and African Diaspora Studies
- Andrew Davis, Associate Professor, Old Testament, School of Theology and Ministry
- Laurel Davis, Legal Information Librarian and Lecturer in Law, BC Law School
- Maria De Rosa, Associate Professor of the Practice, English
- Hans de Wit, Director, Center for International Higher Education
- Renee DeCesare, Executive Director and Senior Philanthropic Advisor, Schools and Programs, University Advancement
- Angela Demehri, Staff Psychiatrist, University Counseling Services
- Brian Denning, Associate Director of Major Gifts, University Advancement
- Charles Derber, Professor, Sociology
- Claire Donohue, Assistant Clinical Professor, BC Law School
- Eileen Donovan-Kranz, Associate Professor of the Practice, English
- Gawain Dornelly, Staff, Boston College
- Natasha Dunlap, Graduate Assistant
- Fred Enman, S.J., Adjunct Chaplain, BC Law School
- Catherine Enwright, Ph.D. Candidate, English
- Jennifer Erickson, Associate Professor, Political Science
- Rachel Ernst, Adjunct Faculty, English
- Keiseena Evans, Staff, Associate Dean’s Office
- Ethan Farber, Teaching Fellow, Mathematics
- Daniel Farbman, Assistant Professor, BC Law School
- Arlene Feinberg, Staff, Bapst Library
- Curtis Finkley, Landscape Services
- Robin Fleming, Professor, History
- Ismael Fofana, Assistant Professor of the Practice, Biology
- Eric Folker, Associate Professor, Biology
- Tiffeni Fontno, Head Librarian, Educational Resource Center
- Betsy Fountain, Associate Director of Major Giving, University Advancement
- Becky Franckle, Assistant Professor of the Practice, Program in Global Public Health and the Common Good
- Kate Frenette, Library Assistant, BC Law Library
- Gregory Fried, Professor, Philosophy
- Julie Gagnon, Administrative Assistant, Marketing, Carroll School of Management
- Frank Garcia, Professor, BC Law School
- James Gardner, Learning Designer, Center for Digital Innovation in Learning
- Emily Gates, Assistant Professor, Lynch School of Education and Human Development
- Yonder Gillihan, Associate Professor, Theology
- Ellen Goldstein, Assistant Professor of the Practice, Mathematics
- Matthew Goode, Assistant Director, Center for Teaching Excellence
- Michael Goodman, Web, Social Media and Events Support Specialist, Lynch School of Education and Human Development
- Lindsay Gordon, Associate Director, University Advancement
- Samantha Gordon (’16), Assistant Director of Residential Life
- Andrew Grant, Visiting Assistant Professor, International Studies
- Elizabeth Graver, Professor, English
- Kent Greenfield, Professor, BC Law School
- J. Elisenda Grigsby, Professor, Mathematics
- Stacy Grooters, Executive Director, Center for Teaching Excellence
- Michelle Grossfield, Public Interest and Pro Bono Program Director, BC Law School
- Hiba Hafiz, Assistant Professor, BC Law School
- Laura Hake, Associate Professor, Biology
- Lori Harrison-Kahan, Associate Professor of the Practice, English
- Michaelyn Hartmann, Part-Time Faculty, Biology
- Ellen Healy, Associate Director for Learning Technologies, Center for Digital Innovation in Learning
- Peter Hess, Learning Technologies Administrator, Center for Digital Innovation in Learning
- Kristin Heyer, Professor, Theological Ethics, Theology
- Mary Ann Hinsdale, Associate Professor, Theology
- Zina Hodge, Associate Director, Field Placement and Outreach, Lynch School of Education and Human Development
- Charles Hoffman, Professor, Biology
- Gail Hoffman, Associate Professor, Classics and Fine Arts
- Mary Holper, Associate Clinical Professor, BC Law School
- Anne Homza, Assistant Professor of the Practice, Lynch School of Education and Human Development
- Lauren Honig, Assistant Professor, Political Science
- Jonathan Howard, Assistant Professor, English
- Marjorie Howes, Associate Professor, English
- Thomas Hulse, Visiting Assistant Professor, Mathematics
- Kim Humphrey; Instructional Designer, Center for Teaching Excellence; Ph.D. Candidate, Theology
- Aeron Hunt, Associate Professor, English
- Ingu Hwang, Korea Foundation Visiting Assistant Professor, International Studies Program and History
- Kristin Imre, Adjunct Faculty, English
- Penelope Ismay, Associate Professor, History
- Mary Jo Iozzio, Professor, Moral Theology, BC School of Theology and Ministry
- Yvonne Jenkins, Senior Staff Psychologist, University Counseling Services
- Marilynn S. Johnson, Professor, History
- Renee Jones, Professor and Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, BC Law School
- Andrew Jorgenson, Professor, Sociology
- Ali Kadivar, Assistant Professor, Sociology
- Susan Simone Kang, Adjunct Professor, Director of International Programs, BC Law School
- Daniel Kanstroom, Professor, BC Law
- Thomas Kaplan-Maxfield, Associate Professor of the Practice, English
- Christopher Kenaley, Assistant Professor of the Practice, Biology
- Stacie Kent, Assistant Professor, History
- Amanda Kenyon, Admissions, BC Law School
- Nate Kenyon, Director, Marketing and Communications, BC Law School
- Lisa Kessler, Part-Time Faculty, Art, Art History, and Film
- Clara Kim, Media Production Graduate Assistant, Center for Digital Innovation in Learning
- Jeeuhn Kim, Doctoral Student, Mathematics
- Min Jung Kim, Digital Learning Specialist
- Nam Wook Kim, Assistant Professor, Computer Science
- Oh Myo Kim, Associate Professor of the Practice, Lynch School of Education and Human Development
- Dan Kirschner, Professor, Biology (emeritus)
- Mark Kleinschnittger, Manager, Recruitment and Operations, BC Law School
- Khalid Kodi, Adjunct Faculty, Art, Art History, and Film
- Steve Koh, Marianne D. Short and Ray Skowyra Sesquicentennial Assistant Professor, BC Law School
- Amanda Labriola, Adjunct Faculty, English
- Helen Lacouture, Associate Law Librarian for Collection Services and Digital Initiatives, BC Law School
- Robert Lehman, Associate Professor, English
- Theodore Lehre, Ph.D. Candidate and Teaching Fellow, English
- Rebecca Levine Coley, Professor and Chair, Counseling, Developmental and Educational Psychology
- Ramsay Liem, Professor Emeritus of Psychology and Visiting Scholar, Center for Human Rights and International Justice
- Tim Lindgren, Senior Learning Experience Designer, Center for Digital Innovation in Learning
- LM, Faculty
- Brian Loane, Graduate Student, English
- Maria Lockheardt, Director of International Advancement, University Advancement
- John Logan, Development Assistant, University Advancement
- Vicki Losick, Assistant Professor, Biology
- Rebecca Lowenhaupt, Associate Professor, Lynch School of Education and Human Development
- M. Brinton Lykes, Professor, Psychology, Lynch School of Education and Human Development; Co-Director, Center for Human Rights and International Justice
- Cynthia Lyerly, Associate Professor, History
- Julie MacEvoy, Associate Professor of the Practice, Lynch School of Education and Human Development
- Keerthi Madapusi Pera, Assistant Professor, Mathematics
- Ray Madoff, Professor, BC Law School
- Michael Malec, Associate Professor, Sociology (emeritus)
- Timothy Mangin, Assistant Professor, Music
- Paula Mathieu, Associate Professor, English
- Zachary Matus, Associate Professor, History
- Maia McAleavey, Associate Professor, English
- Lauren McCauslin, Director, Alumni Class and School Engagement
- Sarah McMenamin, Assistant Professor, Biology
- Judith A. McMorrow, Professor and Associate Dean of Experiential Learning and Global Engagement, BC Law School
- Katherine McNeill, Professor, Science Education, Lynch School of Education and Human Development
- Patrick McQuillan, Associate Professor, Lynch School of Education and Human Development
- Shawn D. McShay, Graduate Enrollment Management, BC Law School
- Saoirse McSharry, Adjunct Faculty, Biology
- Matthew Mersky, Ph.D. Candidate, English
- Andrew Miller, Assistant Professor, Lynch School of Education and Human Development
- Dorothy Miller, Adjunct Professor, English
- Karen K. Miller, Associate Professor of the Practice, History
- Francesca Minonne, Assistant Director, Center for Teaching Excellence
- Rebekah Mitsein, Assistant Professor, English
- Yajun Mo, Assistant Professor, History
- Babak Momeni, Assistant Professor, Biology
- Catherine Mooney, Associate Professor, School of Theology and Ministry
- Sara Moorman, Associate Professor, Sociology
- Greer Muldowney, Assistant Professor of the Practice, Art, Art History, and Film
- Colleen Murphy, Associate Director, University Advancement
- Michael Noone, Professor and Chair, Music
- Kelsey Norwood, Staff
- Kevin O’Neill, Associate Professor, History
- Arissa Oh, Associate Professor, History
- Heather Olins, Assistant Professor of the Practice, Biology
- Gabrielle Oliveira, Assistant Professor, Lynch School of Education and Human Development
- Hosffman Ospino, Associate Professor, School of Theology and Ministry
- Patrick Orson, Visiting Assistant Professor, Mathematics
- Zinnia Owen Smith, Academic Support Assistant, BC Law School
- Erik Owens, Director, International Studies Program; Associate Professor of the Practice, Theology Department
- Mariela Paez, Associate Professor, Lynch School of Education and Human Development
- Hilary Palevsky, Assistant Professor, Earth and Environmental Sciences
- Prasannan Parthasarathi, Professor, History
- Rupal Patel, BC Director of Program Innovation
- Maria Pestana, Staff, BC Career Center
- Kristin Peterson, Assistant Professor, Communication
- Deborah Piatelli, Part-Time Faculty, Sociology
- Stephen Pfohl, Professor, Sociology
- Jill Pickener, Assistant Director, Office of Undergraduate Programs, Lynch School of Education and Human Development
- Larry Pickener, Associate Director, Education Abroad
- Ángeles Picone, Assistant Professor, History
- Zygmunt Plater, Professor, BC Law School
- Rezy Pradipta, Research Scientist, Institute for Scientific Research
- Patrick Proctor, Professor, Lynch School of Education and Human Development
- Jennie Purnell, Associate Professor, Political Science
- Untara Rayeesa, Adjunct Faculty, English
- Katie Rapier, Assistant Professor, Philosophy
- Charles Redmond, Adjunct Faculty, English
- Robert Reed, Assistant Professor of the Practice, Mathematics
- Virginia Reinburg, Professor, History
- Michael Resler, Professor, German Studies
- Ana Rivera, Visiting Professor, BC Law School
- Carson Rogers, Visiting Assistant Professor, Mathematics
- Kylie Rolincik, Adjunct Professor, Screenwriting and Film Studies
- Michelle Ronty, Associate Director, Major Giving, University Advancement
- Sarah Gwyneth Ross, Professor, History
- Heather Rowan-Kenyon, Associate Professor, Lynch School of Education and Human Development
- Bonnie Rudner, Professor of the Practice, English
- Matt Rutledge, Associate Professor of the Practice, Economics
- Dana Sajdi, Associate Professor, History
- Brian Salerno, Director of Learning Design, Center for Digital Innovation in Learning
- Samuel Sanchez, Associate Director of Admissions and Financial Aid, Lynch School of Education and Human Development
- Doug Saphire, Director of Recruitment and Employer Outreach, BC Law School
- Evangeline Sarda, Associate Clinical Law Professor, BC Law School
- Martin Scanlan, Associate Professor, Lynch School of Education and Human Development
- David Scanlon, Associate Professor, Lynch School of Education and Human Development
- Juliet Schor, Professor, Sociology
- Craig Schroeder, Associate Director, Major Giving, University Advancement
- Scott Seider, Associate Professor, Lynch School of Education and Human Development
- Silvia Sellers-García, Associate Professor, History
- Franziska Serpahim, Associate Professor, History
- Kaplana Seshadri, Professor, English
- Natalia Sarkisian, Associate Professor, Sociology
- Francine Sherman, Clinical Professor, BC Law School
- Mary Sherman, Adjunct Faculty, Art, Art History, and Film
- Dennis Shirley, Professor, Lynch School of Education and Human Development
- Paul Sinclair, Boston College HVAC Department
- Joshua Snyder, Director of Faith, Peace, and Justice Minor, Theology
- Andrew Sofer, Professor, English
- Min Song, Professor, English
- Ximena Soto, BC School of Social Work Assistant Director of the Latinx Leadership Initiative
- Brian Sousa, Adjunct Instructor, English
- Eve Spangler, Associate Professor, Sociology
- Robert Stanton, Associate Professor, English
- Ev Stefanakos, Ph.D. Candidate, English
- Martin Summers, Professor, History and African and African Diaspora Studies
- Eileen Sweeney, Professor, Philosophy
- Meghan Sweeney, Associate Professor of the Practice, PULSE Program and Theology
- Kari Tannenbaum, Visiting Professor, BC Law School
- Laura Tanner, Professor, English
- Sandy Tarrant, Visiting Associate Clinical Professor of Law, BC Law School
- Marija Tesla, Staff, BC Law School
- Leonardo Torres, Assistant Director, Aquatics and Instructional Programs
- Paul Tremblay, Clinical Professor and Dean’s Distinguished Scholar, BC Law School
- Maria Tringale, Director, University Advancement
- Usha Tummala-Narra, Professor, Counseling, Developmental and Educational Psychology, Lynch School of Education and Human Development
- Kaitlyn Tuthill, Director of Assessment, Lynch School of Education and Human Development
- Keisha Valdez, Senior Learning Experience Designer, Center for Digital Innovation in Learning
- Conevery Valencius, Professor, History
- O. Ernesto Valiente, Associate Professor, Systematic Theology
- Maureen Van Neste, Assistant Professor of the Practice, BC Law School
- Malachi Van Nice, Media Graduate Assistant, Center for Digital Innovation in Learning
- Anjali Vats, Associate Professor, Communication and African and African Diaspora Studies
- Jamie Walker, Learning Technologies Administrator, Center for Digital Innovation in Learning
- Jason Wallace, Employee, Boston College
- Jon Wargo, Assistant Professor, Lynch School of Education and Human Development
- Douglas Warner, Director of Laboratories, Biology
- Eric Weiskott, Associate Professor, English
- James Weiss, Associate Professor, Theology; Director, Capstone Program
- Danielle Wells, Associate Director, Office of Undergraduate Admissions
- David Wirth, Professor, BC Law School
- Catherine Wong, Director of Urban Outreach Initiatives, Lynch School of Education and Human Development
- Jessy Yang, Adjunct Faculty, Art, Art History, and Film
- Alfred Yen, Professor and Dean’s Distinguished Scholar, BC Law School
- Liane Young, Associate Professor, Psychology
- Shannon Poppe Zaruba, Resident Director, BC Residential Life
- Ling Zhang, Associate Professor, History
- Brian Zimmerman, Adjunct Faculty, English
