To the Wooster Community at the Chauvin Trial’s Conclusion

President Sarah Bolton issued the following statement Tuesday, April 20, to The College of Wooster community in response to the Chauvin Trial’s conclusion:
Dear Wooster Community,
I write today as the trial for Derek Chauvin concludes, almost a year after the brutal killing of George Floyd.  Watching again the violence that led to Mr. Floyd’s death, in the midst of the continuing wave of killings of BIPOC people – Daunte Wright, Adam Toledo, the Atlanta shootings, and many more – has been heartbreaking, infuriating and incredibly difficult for so many.  Everyone should be able live safely, without fear of the harms and violence of racism and white supremacy.  While each person is affected differently by today’s verdict and all that has led up to it, for those who have been personally targeted by racism and violence, the impact is especially profound.
The College is providing opportunities for students, staff and faculty to come together for support.

• The Five Colleges of Ohio Diversity Deans and Officers will host a support event for students, staff and faculty across our colleges tomorrow (Wednesday) afternoon from 4-6 pm.  Register Here
• The Center for Diversity and Inclusion will be offering a supportive conversation space, without programming, on Friday, 4/23 at 7 p.m. (similar to the one they held on Friday, 4/16) that is open to students, staff, and faculty.  The link for this will be shared later this week.
• Members of The College of Wooster community may sign-up to meet with staff members in the CDI or reach out to the Campus Chaplain, Erin Guzmán via email at eguzman@wooster.edu or sign up for a meeting.
• Let’s Talk 15-min Counseling Sessions. As we move through this week, we want to make sure there are spaces and times for us to be in community.  Counseling Services has space available during Wednesday’s ‘Let’s Talk’ for students and is offering a Friday edition of ‘Let’s Talk’ for students from 10am-12pm EST.  This program will provide 15-minute consultations for all students, regardless of location, to be heard, receive support, and get help linking to additional resources. You can sign up for a meeting time here.
• Scots Telehealth 24/7 Support. Students can also access free, confidential, and 24/7 counseling services from licensed providers through Scots Telehealth program of TalkNow.  Students should register at scotstelehealth.com and use service key “SCOTS”.  This service will continue through the end of the semester, into summer, and through next academic year for students registered at the College of Wooster (seniors will be able to access beyond the end of the term). Scots Telehealth are available to all students, regardless of your location.
• If you would like to talk with someone individually for support, please call 330-263-2319.

The trial of Derek Chauvin is about one kind of accountability – the legal accountability of an individual for an act of deadly violence.  But, as a society, we have so much more to account for – and so much more that we need to change.   The history of racism and racist violence in this country is appalling, and it continues daily.   So many BIPOC people have been torn from their families by killings that took place because of racism.  We have to find ways to make this stop.
Here at Wooster, we each have a role to play.  In addition to engaging in national efforts toward justice, we must work to make our campus safer, more equitable and more inclusive – to make it a place that is truly anti-racist.  This work is urgent.   We have much more to do.  I am deeply grateful to the many members of the Wooster community who are advancing justice – here on campus and around the world.   We will keep moving forward, together.
Sincerely,
Sarah Bolton, President

Posted in News on April 20, 2021.