It is from a very somber place that I send you this email today.
As we have struggled with the events of the pandemic these past few months, our hearts and minds have been pulled in a different direction with the inexcusable and intolerable actions in the senseless death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Amidst the protests across the state in denunciation, I have spoken with many of you directly about how our College should address the issue. I have also reached out to community leaders to show our support and seek their advice.
Today, I join our students, staff, faculty, administrators, and our Board of Trustees in our wholehearted condemnation of this senseless act of violence on a black man in America. His death, and the circumstances surrounding it, affects us all—especially our youngest and most vulnerable—the students at our college.
Our NVC Criminal Justice Training Center Director and the Coordinator of the Administration of Justice Program published a written statement that I strongly endorse. It is an underpinning of what we expect of our graduates from the police academy, and how we are committed to action in the future.
You can read their message here
.
I have also reached out to other presidents in the community college system, and we have discussed steps we can take to address the inequities and injustice that exist. We will begin our work immediately in meetings to focus our joint efforts.
Know that NVC seeks to create a better place to support all of our students, and I am committed to working together as a college family to focus on addressing how we can better prepare for constructive and powerful actions to change our system for the better.
