To the Virginia Tech community:

Leadership in Athletics reacted quickly and with clarity in addressing the incident last weekend. The team has reached out to schedule a meeting with the Black Organizations Council (BOC) and, to start, I have asked to meet with the BOC as well. While we discuss and debate the intent, the context, and the remorse expressed by the students involved, we would be missing an opportunity if we did not accept the reality that this incident is not an isolated one at Virginia Tech, in our communities, or in our country.

Let us use this moment to confront our own biases, cultural misperceptions, fears, and aggressions.  If we aren’t sure if someone will be offended by a remark or an action, let’s ask rather than assume. If we learn that words or actions are offensive to others, let’s commit to understanding why. If we hear a friend say something that we know is offensive to others, let’s share our understanding with that friend.

We cannot practice Ut Prosim without empathy, and we cannot develop empathy without curiosity and a commitment to learning more about the lived experience of others every day.

We can start the process of embracing a larger world view by participating in formal and informal events that fill the spring calendar.  Some of those events are listed below.

Thank you,

Tim Sands,
President

March 31, 2018

April 5, 2018

  • Pride Week: Film: Milk
    • 6:30 p.m.
    • Haymarket Theatre, Squires Student Center

April 6, 2018

April 12, 2018

  • Reading of the Names - Holocaust Remembrance Day
    • 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
    • Drillfield
    • Volunteers to read names can sign up here

April 13-15, 2018

 

April 19, 2018

April 22, 2018

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