Published April 20, 2021
Dear university community:
A few moments ago, we all learned the verdict in the Derek Chauvin trial. This landmark trial has been viewed as a referendum on police accountability and brutality against Black and Brown Americans—and, as such, it has been closely followed by millions of people demanding the abiding structural change that is long overdue in our country.
Of course, the deep-seated hurt, sadness and anger that George Floyd’s murder evoked cannot be wiped away with the reading of a guilty verdict. It is my ardent hope that as we pause and reflect on the verdict, we consider how we can transform this moment in our collective history into a turning point for genuine reconciliation and change: change in our hearts, our minds, our practices, our systems.
As I have said before, we at UB can actively contribute to transformative change through our mission and its expression in our education, our research, scholarship and creative activities, and our engagement with one another and the many communities we serve.
Together, as a university community, we must continue working toward the ideals of social justice, recognizing that achieving them will lead to a brighter future for those who have been marginalized and disenfranchised throughout our country’s history—and for our nation as a whole.
Sincerely,
Satish K. Tripathi
President