July 1, 2020 will mark 13 years of Dr. Barry H. Corey serving as the President of BIOLA University. As an alumni from BIOLA University, myself alongside a plethora of current students, parents and alumni are frustrated with Dr. Barry Corey and his lack of commitment to maintaining an anti-racist climate on BIOLA's campus. 

During my time as a student at BIOLA, I encountered microagressions in the dorms, racial insensitivity in the classroom, racial profiling by campus police and just flat out explicit racism both in and outside the classroom on multiple occasions. As a result of sensing racism from professors and school administration, I felt disempowered to discuss my concerns and frustrations because I knew they would go unheard. 

In March of 2013, The Chimes, BIOLA's university newspaper, released an article where Dr. Barry Corey disclosed that he and other BIOLA community members had harmful attitudes towards minority groups on campus. Dr. Barry Corey “repented” for the harmful attitudes in a 12 page letter and moved on. Here we are, 7 years later and nothing has changed. Under Dr. Barry Corey’s leadership, the university released an insensitive statement in regards to the murder of George Floyd and liked comments underneath the post insinuating that frustrated alumni of color were “prideful and entitled” and should "be more thankful" for Dr. Barry Corey. 

As the university's initial statement received an abundance of backlash, BIOLA released an additional statement last week, and although it was slightly better, I perceived it as an afterthought with poor intentions. 

I am not thankful for Dr. Barry Corey and the lack of progress BIOLA has made thus far as a university. His inability to ensure that the university provided an appropriate response to the recent murders of Black Americans is unacceptable. Dr. Barry Corey has failed to adequately represent, advocate and stand for students and alumni of color. He said himself that under his leadership, the university started diversity initiatives and forgot about them. It is evident that diversity & inclusion, racial reconciliation, anti-racism initiatives or whatever you want to call it, are not a priority for Dr. Barry Corey. 

If Dr. Barry Corey had truly repented for the “harmful attitudes” he held towards minority students back in 2013, the initial statement released by BIOLA in response to the murder of George Floyd would not have been written with such racial insensitivity. 

As protests across our country are calling for racial equity and change, I also believe we need to call for much needed racial equity and change to Christian Universities. During Dr. Barry Corey's 13 years of leadership at BIOLA, he has proved that he is incapable of promoting and maintaining a campus climate that is diverse, inclusive and anti-racist. This is not a time for BIOLA University to start a diversity initiative that will be forgotten about. It is evident, that diversity, inclusion and racial reconciliation were never priorities for Dr. Barry H. Corey, and it is time for BIOLA to be lead by a leader who will prioritize creating an inclusive climate that is anti-racist and embraces all cultures and backgrounds. 

Allies and BIOLA Students & Alumni of Color demand the following from the university: 

• Dr. Barry H. Corey must resign from the Office of the President prior to the start of the Fall 2020 Academic Year. 
• University administration must select a University President that has experience working with racial and ethnic minorities and will prioritize diversity, inclusion and anti-racist initiatives on campus.
  • If an interim president is needed, the interim president must meet the qualifications above.
• BIOLA University must mandate attendance for all students at the annual Student Congress on Racial Reconciliation (SCORR).
• Anti-racism training must be instituted for all staff, faculty and student leaders. 
• BIOLA University must prioritize funding for multi-ethnic and minority student groups and initiatives.
• BIOLA University must make cuts to campus safety/police to prioritize funding for campus wide anti-racist initiatives. 
• BIOLA University must commit to being an educational institution that is welcoming of all backgrounds despite race, ethnicity, sexuality or gender identity. 

Sincerely, 

BIOLA Students & Alumni for Progress & Change