Rededicating Ourselves to the Ideals of Dr. King
As we celebrated Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on Monday, it felt more important than ever to reflect on Dr. King’s legacy and recommit to the ideals of racial and social justice. Recent events have made clear that racism and white supremacy are not only legacies of our nation’s past, but also persistent and pervasive forces that continue to harm all of us—especially people of color.
As we work to advance equity and inclusion at MSUM, we’ve been explicit about our commitment to social justice and our intolerance for acts of bigotry, hate, or discrimination. Beginning this semester, for example, all course syllabi at MSUM contain a clear anti-bias statement and information about how to report acts of bigotry, harassment or intimidation on campus. We’re also implementing Equity by Design, a comprehensive effort to examine our policies and practices through an equity lens and make changes that will lead to more equitable outcomes for our students.
Denouncing white supremacy and racism is an important first step but it is not enough. All of us must commit to being anti-racist and working actively to advance justice in our community. Fortunately, there is no better place than a university to engage in the learning and personal growth this work requires of us. And, fortunately, opportunities to learn about anti-racism and racial justice aren’t limited to MLK Day. MSUM’s MLK Day Challenge is open to the community and extends throughout the month of January. More information is available on DragonCentral.
Dr. King believed that the purpose of education is to build character as well as intellect. Through education combined with sustained action, we can make our community a place that fulfills Dr. King’s ideals—and brings our world closer to those ideals as well.
Dr. Anne Blackhurst served as Minnesota State University Moorhead’s 11th president from July 1, 2014 to June 30, 2023.
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