President Rebecca M. Bergman
I cannot begin this week’s Monday Moments without first mentioning the tragic death of Amir Locke at the hands of police who were executing a no-knock warrant in Minneapolis, the shooting outside Richfield’s South Education Center that killed Jahmari Rice and injured two other students, and a series of bomb threats targeted at our nation’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities. These stories are a stark reminder that much work must be done to address violence and threats of violence in communities and on college campuses across our country. Please join me in prayers and reflection for the victims and their families and for peace to prevail over violence throughout the world.
As you saw in this morning’s announcement from Doug Thompson and the President’s Council for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (PCDEI), we are encouraging all members of the Gustavus community to watch a series of micro-videos throughout the month of February to celebrate Black History Month. Please take a few minutes each week to view the designated micro-videos from a collection called Black History in Two Minutes (or so), and thoughtfully reflect on the contributions and struggles of African Americans. I also encourage you to take part in one or more of the Spring Semester DEI Learning & Engagement Opportunities that were sent via community-l last week, starting with a session with Phil Bryant this Wednesday, February 9, at 11:30 a.m. in the Saint Peter Room. I believe that history is one of our greatest teachers. Awareness of, and learning from history is one of the best ways we can both recognize events and people who have shaped our past and reflect on a path to a better and more inclusive future.
As we continue to navigate the challenges associated with the pandemic, let’s remind ourselves that someday we will look back on these challenges as a chapter in the history of Gustavus Adolphus College. We will tell the stories of the difficulties we faced, how we came together as a community to adjust and persevere, how we learned to be more resilient than we knew was possible, and how we continued to support each other through the pressures of daily life that accompany this unusual time. Through it all, we remain positive, encouraged, and inspired to fulfill our mission. That’s the Gustavus way.
Until next week, keep up the good work, Gusties!
Yours in community,
President Bergman