Dear Students, Faculty and Staff,
In support of and in solidarity with the statewide day of action being called for by Black Lives Matter Seattle–King County this Friday, June 12, Seattle University plans to cease non-academic operations for the day and leave decisions on finals scheduled for this last day of the spring quarter to the discretion of faculty. It will be treated as a paid day off for all staff.
As a nation, we are experiencing history in the making. The persistent protests for justice across the country and around the world reflect the power of solidarity and speaking out for racial justice and an end to systemic racism. For an educational institution, this is a teachable moment unfolding in real time and, together, we strive to uphold our values in both word and deed.
The day of action will include a general strike and silent march to honor all black lives and “mourn the lives lost to police brutality and institutional racism.” The Seattle march is scheduled to begin at Judkins Park on Friday afternoon. Additional details about the day of action and the march can be found on the group’s website and Facebook page.
We encourage you to find a way that is best for you to share in the moment. We know some faculty and staff are planning to gather at the turnaround in front of the School of Law and will leave at 12:15 p.m. to walk to Judkins Park.
It is important to remember that this social movement for racial justice is taking place in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. If you choose to participate in Friday’s silent march, we urge you to follow the guidelines and recommended safety precautions included with the event details on the Black Lives Matter website. We recognize some of our colleagues are not able to participate in person due to the health risks present at this time.
A separate communication about finals scheduled for Friday has been sent to faculty from Provost Shane P. Martin. Students who have finals scheduled for Friday should proceed as scheduled unless they receive additional guidance from their faculty member.
Staff should refer to the HR guidelines below that follow this message for additional information. Essential workers needing to be on campus, please refer to the last point in the guidelines.
We honor and affirm all Black lives and, in this small way, join in the day of action as part of our renewed commitment to reimagine and bring forth a more just and humane world.
Sincerely,
Stephen V. Sundborg, S.J.
President
Natasha Martin, JD
Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion