To: Oregon State University Community Members
From: Edward Feser, Acting President, Provost and Executive Vice President
Becky Johnson, Interim President-Elect
April 20, 2021
Dear Oregon State University Community Members,
Justice prevailed this afternoon when a jury in a Minneapolis courtroom convicted former police officer Derek Chauvin on all counts of murder and manslaughter in the death of George Floyd on May 25, 2020. As a university and as a community, we grieve for Mr. Floyd and his family.
We recognize the pain, anger, suffering and numbness the murder of George Floyd and subsequent trial have caused our Black students, faculty, staff and community members. We have no illusion that Derek Chauvin’s conviction will bring an end to violence against people of color. This is one case, among far too many. We simply are not doing enough as a society to stop such violence. That must change. At OSU, we must do our part to bring that change.
We ask all members of the Oregon State University community to pause this afternoon and reflect on the senseless taking of a man’s life, and the continued violence being perpetrated against people of color across our nation by police.
Please join a “Humanity and Hope” gathering at 5:30 p.m. today, in person on the Corvallis Campus’s Memorial Union Quad and live streaming, where we will engage in dialogue about what has occurred in this trial and provide support for Black students, faculty, staff and community members. The gathering will also be shown live-streamed in Tykeson Hall 111 on the OSU-Cascades campus. We ask that all OSU faculty and supervisors accommodate students and employees who wish to participate in this gathering.
Oregon State University’s work to create a community that is truly antiracist, equitable, and welcoming for all continues and is more important than ever. Further updates on actions underway will be shared in the days ahead.
Sincerely,
Edward Feser
Acting President
Provost and Executive Vice President
Rebecca Johnson
Interim president-elect