In the 15 days since George Floyd was killed, protests have stretched across the country and around the world. Some local leaders have vowed to reallocate portions of police budgets to community investment, while others have called for defunding of departments. And books like White Fragility and How to Be an Antiracist have jumped to the top of national bestseller lists, with seven of Amazon’s top 10-selling books this week centering on race and antiracism.
The nation is in a moment of reckoning, with renewed attention not only to law enforcement, but every aspect of a society where systemic racism limits opportunities in life—and, too often, prematurely ends them.
Members of the campus community can engage these critical issues during a Day of Dialogue tomorrow (Wednesday, June 10). With multiple sessions and discussion spaces, participants can focus on topics central to the national conversation—as well as subjects involving the university itself. The day’s final event is a panel where university leaders discuss key themes and questions that have emerged during the day.
Individuals must register in advance for the open dialogues (details below) to obtain the event link.
Panels will be streamed at case.edu/livestream/s1 (with live captioning at case.edu/livestream/s2).
For panel discussions, those with questions are asked to submit questions in advance to help moderators make the conversations as constructive and meaningful as possible for both panelists and attendees.
See event details below. Additional dialogues may be added June 9, so check back for the full schedule.
Panel: Safety on Campus: Police and Race at Case Western Reserve
10–11 a.m.
Moderators:
- Ayesha Bell Hardaway (LAW ’04), assistant professor of law, Social Justice Law Center director and co-director of the Social Justice Institute
- Avidan Cover, professor of law and director of the Institute for Global Security Law and Policy
Panelists:
- Megan Koeth, director, Office of Resiliency
- Jay Hodge, chief of police
- Paul Owens, police sergeant
Event description: While the roles of campus police differ in many respects from those of municipal departments, any university discussion of law enforcement must also address its own public safety operations. In a discussion moderated by School of Law professors, members of the Division of Public Safety will respond to questions regarding officer training, campus engagement, and procedures involving use of force.
Event link: case.edu/livestream/s1 (case.edu/livestream/s2 for live captioning)
Submit your questions: Day of Dialogue question form
Panel: Addressing Health Disparities
11 a.m.–noon
Moderator: Teleange’ Thomas (CWR ’02), director of partnerships–Midwest at Candid.
Panelists:
- Emmitt Jolly, associate professor of biology in the College of Arts and Sciences and associate professor of general medical sciences in the School of Medicine
- Shanina Knighton (GRS ’17, nursing), instructor and KL2 Scholar at Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing
- Margaret Larkins-Pettigrew, associate professor of reproductive biology and assistant dean of student affairs in the School of Medicine, and director and Edgar B. Jackson Jr., MD, Endowed Chair in Clinical Excellence & Diversity at University Hospitals
- David Miller, associate professor and director of International Education Programs at Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences
- Blanton Tolbert, professor of chemistry in the College of Arts and Sciences
Event description: COVID-19 is the latest in a long line of diseases that disproportionately affects black people and other people of color. Faculty members will weigh in on the multifaceted reasons for the major disparities—and discuss what Case Western Reserve’s role could be in helping to improve it.
Event link: case.edu/livestream/s1 (case.edu/livestream/s2 for live captioning)
Submit your questions: Day of Dialogue question form
Open Dialogue: Can We Talk? Roundtable for Black Faculty, Staff and Students
Noon–1:30 p.m.
Hosted by: Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Equal Opportunity; Senate Committee on Minority Affairs
Moderators:
- Robert Solomon, vice president for the Office for Inclusion, Diversity and Equal Opportunity
- Janetta Hammock, diversity program manager in the Office for Inclusion, Diversity and Equal Opportunity
Event description: Black faculty, staff and students are invited to a gathering space where they can share thoughts, feelings, frustrations and listen to each other reflect on and try to make sense of recent national and local racial issues and concerns. The roundtable aims to recognize the unique hostile relationship that law enforcement has had with the Black community, dating back to antebellum slavery—a relationship so entrenched within American Black culture that Black people all over the nation give “the talk” to their children to teach them how to interact with law enforcement in a way that will preserve their lives.
Event link: Register on CampusGroups
Open Dialogue: Think Before You Judge?
12:30–1:30 p.m.
Hosted by: Interfraternity Congress and Panhellenic Council
Event description: CWRU Greek Life will host a dialogue about how implicit bias can impact the Greek experience. This conversation is open to the entire campus community. This will be a space for members to come together and understand some of the barriers in the way. While bias is a broad topic, we hope the breadth will encourage us to look at the current state of a nation through various lenses. Our goal is to draft a letter to university administration with the findings of this conversation.
Event link: Register for the Greek Life event on CampusGroups.
Closed Event: Law School Faculty Discussion
Noon–1:30 p.m.
Hosted by: School of Law
Event description: Following a forum on Monday, the School of Law will hold a meeting with its faculty on Wednesday. Event information has been shared via email.
Open Dialogue: It’s Our Turn Now
1:30-3:30 p.m.
Hosted by: Undergraduate Student Government, Undergraduate Diversity Collaborative, Black Student Union
Moderator: Aliah Lawson, president of Black Student Union
Event description: Join the Undergraduate Student Government, Undergraduate Diversity Collaborative and Black Student Union for an action-oriented dialogue in which members of the student body can speak on ways they’d like to see change in our campus community. This event is open to the campus community to listen to our students.
Event link: Register online to receive the Zoom link.
Grad Leaders Forum
2-3 p.m.
Join Graduate Student Council executive members (on Zoom) for an open dialogue regarding current events, experiences at CWRU, and how we can grow to become a stronger and more inclusive community. All graduate students are available.
Event link: Register for the event through CampusGroups.
Closed Event: Students of Color Support Space
2-3 p.m.
Hosted by: University Health and Counseling Services
Event description: Students of color seeking individualized support are invited to schedule a 30-minute, one-on-one confidential Zoom consultation with Naomi Drakeford, a psychologist in University Health and Counseling Services, or Diljot Sachdeva, a psychologist/multicultural specialist in University Health and Counseling Services.
Event link: Register for your time slot.
Open Dialogue: Examining Institutional Racism and a Call to Racial Justice
2-3:30 p.m.
Hosted by: Social Justice Institute, Flora Stone Mather Center for Women and Community Innovation Network
Moderators:
- Ayesha Bell Hardaway (LAW ’04), assistant professor of law, Social Justice Law Center director and co-director of the Social Justice Institute
- Mark Chupp (GRS ’03, social welfare), assistant professor in the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences, director of the Community Innovation Network and co-director of the Social Justice Institute
Event description: The Social Justice Institute, Flora Stone Mather Center for Women and Community Innovation Network urge Case Western Reserve University to examine our role in institutional racism and provide a call to action. This dialogue is for faculty, staff and administrators to examine the explicit and implicit ways we as an institution reflect and reinforce white supremacy and contribute to institutional racism. Each participant will be invited to reflect on their own experience and consider steps they can take to promote racial justice and equity. There will be an opening session, followed by facilitated breakout rooms and development of action steps.
Event link: Faculty and staff must register to receive the Zoom link via email.
Open Dialogue: Conversations with Students of Color Regarding Recent National Events
3-4 p.m.
Hosted by: University Health and Counseling Services
Event description: University Health and Counseling Services clinical staff will moderate a confidential, safe space for CWRU students of color to gain support and discuss the impact of recent and historical violence and racism. Students can drop in at any time during the group discussion. The discussion is open to all CWRU students of color, regardless of where they currently reside.
Event link: Sign up for this week’s event on CampusGroups.
Panel: What We’ve Learned Today—And What’s Next
4–5 p.m.
Moderators:
- Aliah Lawson, president of Black Student Union
- Aaron McPeck, president of Graduate Student Council
Panelists:
- Barbara R. Snyder, president
- Ben Vinson III, provost and executive vice president
- Robert Solomon, vice president of diversity, inclusion and equal opportunity
- Naomi Sigg, director of multicultural affairs
Event description: In this concluding event, Case Western Reserve leadership will discuss topics and questions that have emerged as consistent themes during the day and ways the university can act to help address them.
Event link: case.edu/livestream/s1 (case.edu/livestream/s2 for live captioning)
Submit your questions: Day of Dialogue question form