Fostering community in trying times

Foster Students, Faculty & Staff,

The recent tragic events of racially motivated violence weigh heavily on many of us. Yesterday, I was made aware of a reprehensible racist comment made by a Foster graduate on social media. I want to make it absolutely clear that the Foster School does not in any way, shape or form share or condone such beliefs. We are emphatically committed to creating a safe, welcoming and inclusive environment for ALL. We see and stand with our Black students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members.

I have said on many occasions that we must strive to be better together, better tomorrow. This is an opportunity to put these words into action. We can and must proactively address the unacceptable racial biases that exist in our society.

Below is a post I shared on social media yesterday. I encourage you to read it as well as the message from Ana Mari it references. Please note that the poem at the beginning of Ana Mari’s message is from a Foster alum.

I ask everyone to be flexible, patient and compassionate as we work together to end the quarter and celebrate our graduates during these very challenging times.

If you or a colleague need help, the best place to start is SafeCampus. Some additional UW resources are:

Finally, if you have ideas on how we can work together to build a more inclusive community please share them with me or with our new Associate Dean of Inclusion and Diversity, Christina Fong ([email protected]).

Kind regards,

Frank Hodge
Orin and Janet Smith Endowed Dean
UW Foster School of Business

If not now, when?

It is not enough for some to feel safe. Until all feel safe our work is not done. I am wholeheartedly committed to working towards that goal each and every day. #SAFEatFOSTER

UW President Ana Mari Cauce posted a thoughtful and thought-provoking message yesterday. I encourage you to read it, reflect on it, and then commit to joining together to be a part of the solution. We can and must do better.

https://www.washington.edu/president/2020/05/30/lifting-the-veil/

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