We Stand Together
June 3, 2020
Dear Campus Community:
I share your outrage and horror at the tragic death of George Floyd last week while in Minneapolis Police custody. His death highlights those individuals – far, far too many individuals – who have needlessly lost their lives due to the blatant systemic and societal racism that exists in America.
We here at the Galveston Campus of Texas A&M University stand in solidarity and support with the African-American and minority communities who have long-endured senseless racism to be felt and heard. We have struggled to adequately voice our frustrations, anger and hurt over the events of the past week. Violence against people of color is REAL. Many of us do not know the fear which our friends feel for themselves or their children as they grow up in a world with brutality, injustice and unforgivable hatred. For those who have committed atrocities, we call for justice to be done. For those threatened and hurting, our deepest desire is for you to know that we have your back. We will never know peace until we stand together united in our refusal to sit by silently while our friends, family and loved ones experience oppression.
For us as Aggies, the importance of staying true to our Core Values has never been more imperative. These timeless values should serve as our guiding stars as we directly deal with the challenges we face, especially LOYALTY as we stand beside each other, RESPECT for those we seek to understand, and LEADERSHIP as we set the example for others to follow. Our university has made considerable progress since our humble beginnings as a land grant college alongside a railroad stop 144 years ago. Yet, sadly, our history reflects we have fallen short of applying our Core Values equitably. Let us all commit now to the creation of a legacy of unity – united in our shared traditions and experiences, united in the relentless pursuit of equality, united in our intolerance of intolerance.
As President Young stated in his message to the Aggie community earlier this week, “words alone, however heartfelt and sincere, are no longer enough.” Now is the time to listen, to learn, to grow and create meaningful, lasting change. On Friday, June 5th at 6 p.m. the Galveston Campus will be hosting a virtual campus community forum to discuss the racial tensions in America and on the Galveston Campus. We cannot change that which we do not know. Options to participate in the forum anonymously will be available. Details will follow through email and on social media.
I call on all of us to take some time to consider what we can do as an individual and as a community to address the blatant injustices experienced by George Floyd and so many others. If anyone in our Aggie family are feeling pain and fear, then we all share their pain and fear. Now is the time to hold each other tightly.
Sincerely,
Michael E. Fossum