Dean Smith Addresses Poet Community After Kenosha Shooting

August 27, 2020

Bruce Smith, vice president and Dean of Students, shared a message with the Poet community in light of the Kenosha shooting.

Hello everyone,
 
Here we are again. Another shooting. Another Black person hurt at the hands of police. Another Black person in the cross hairs of American violence. More sadness. More fear. More anxiety. More angst. More pain.
 
For us, all of us members of the Whittier College community, leaning on our community as a coping mechanism is difficult now. Even as we look forward to the start of a new academic year, we know that we will not be able to lean on each other in the ways that we might want to. Being separated makes it more difficult to cope.
 
One thing that makes it easier to cope, though, is knowing that the institutions you count on not only feel you, and promise action, but are also moving forward with action, promises, and commitments. Since the College recently released its Racial Justice and Equity Plan, some small but visible steps have been taken.

  • The job announcement for the Associate Dean position has been posted. A small group is working on reviewing applications and other components of the hiring process. There is excitement about the potential applicants and about having someone in that position by the end of September/beginning of October.
  • The Bias Response Team is working closely with Communications to make their work more accessible to the community. Very soon, de-identified information and other data about specific bias incidents will be available on the College website.
  • Anti-racism training is being scheduled for the Board of Trustees as well as for the Cabinet.

I know that at times everything happening around us can feel overwhelming and we can begin to doubt that real change is possible. It is at that point that we need to continue moving forward. I assure you that at Whittier College we are moving forward with change. I will continue to keep you updated.
 
Be well,
 
Bruce
 
Bruce A. Smith, PhD
Vice President, Dean of Students