Fairfield University won't say that Black lives matter in its community and alumni have had enough. We are speaking out, and we need your support.

*Are you an alumnus? Let us know your class year in the Reasons for Signing!*

Following George Floyd's murder in Minnesota, students at Fairfield University asked for their school to show support for the Black students, faculty, staff and alumni in the university community by saying without question that Black lives matter.

This was university president Dr. Mark R. Nemec's response: an 8-paragraph essay that can't call George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery's "tragic deaths" what they were: murder. A message that can't call racism out by name. A letter that can't speak to the Black community, opting instead to say that Fairfield "must stand with those whose voices legitimately need to be heard."

A response that tries to make everyone comfortable, but ends up saying nothing at all.

Following some negative feedback, as well as hurt and confusion from Black students and alumni who feel unsupported and disregarded by the university that claims to be their second home, Dr. Nemec followed up weeks later with this statement observing Juneteenth. 

From now on, Fairfield will observe Juneteenth as a university holiday. We, an intersectional group of 500+ Fairfield University alumni, are glad the university is mimicking the movement to recognize America's racist history.

However, both of Dr. Nemec's vague statements left us with more questions than answers. For instance:

• Will Fairfield accept its role as an institution for change?
• Will Fairfield prove Dr. Nemec's statements are more than just lip service?
• Will Fairfield commit to becoming an anti-racist institution?
• Does Fairfield believe that Black lives matter or not?

Therefore, we sent Dr. Nemec our response. You can read the full open letter below this message.

We'll give you the short version: It's time for Fairfield University to say - and act like - Black lives matter in the university community.

They can start by acting on the requests in our response. These are concrete steps that will help the university community become an antiracist institution exemplifying its Jesuits values of educating men and women who live in service of others, and of promoting the dignity of all people.

We urge the University to boldly support the Black community by taking action to make us certain that it believes Black lives matter, too. However, we need all the help we can get to make the message breakthrough.

Please consider adding your name to this petition. Let Fairfield University know the world is watching, and that they have a choice: To become a healing force against racism in our world, or continue to allow institutional racism on its campus and leave its Jesuit tradition behind.

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OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT NEMEC: ADDRESSING RACIAL INJUSTICE ON FAIRFIELD UNIVERSITY’S CAMPUS 

Dear President Mark R. Nemec, 

The alumni represented in this letter stand together to send a clear message: The University’s statements in response to the murder of George Floyd and Juneteenth only further isolates Black members of the Fairfield University community. 

The statement you sent on behalf of Fairfield University—while well-intended—used coded language, offered little support, and failed to acknowledge the University’s continued shortcomings regarding inclusion, diversity, and equity. This leaves us—a diverse group of alumni representing intersectional identities, graduating classes, and lived experiences—wondering: Will Fairfield accept its role as an institution for change? Will it prove this statement is more than just lip service? Will it commit to becoming an anti-racist institution? Does the University agree that Black lives matter? 

The United States faces a critical juncture regarding the persistence of racial injustice and has an opportunity to adopt concrete policies to undo these systemic, cultural wrongs. Everyone bears responsibility for bringing about the necessary change—including Fairfield University. In order to be a modern Jesuit Catholic university whose inheritance truly is a “love of truth” and a “respect for justice and loving compassion,” we must seize this vital opportunity to address and systematically solve the long-running hardships Black students face. 

Your statement reminded the undersigned alumni that Fairfield University consistently fails in its handling of racism and discrimination. Every renewed vow to tackle these issues has proved empty. We view these promises are nothing more than opportunities for the institution to convince itself that it is not a part of the problem. The alumni are here to remind you that the University continues to perpetuate institutional racism, and we are determined to help change that reality. We present this letter as a commitment to service and justice, and to bring attention to the truth that we—and the classmates for whom we care deeply—have, due to race, been harmed by the institution we called “home.” 

This diverse and committed group calls on Fairfield University to address institutional and individual racism in the following aspects of our community: 

Section 1: Institutional Racism – a form of racism ingrained in the practice of social and political institutions. With regards to higher education institutions, racism is reflected in the following practices: decision-making, leadership, student enrollment and retention, faculty hires and retention, tenure and promotion policies, curriculum offerings, budget allocation, campus climate, etc. 

1. Decision-Making: Form an Anti-Racism Steering Committee (this is different from the current Diversity & Inclusion Committee) to be chaired by a Black faculty member or administrator and to comprise diverse students, faculty, administrators (including you), alumni, and two representatives from the Board of Trustees. Together, the committee should develop a strategic plan that includes clear milestones and deliverables for the implementation of the anti-racist recommendations and activities outlined here.

2. Monetary Investment: Guarantee that a portion of the Fairfield Fund fundraising efforts each academic year, along with the funds raised on Fairfield’s annual STAGiving Day, amounting to no less than 20% of funds raised, are budget enhancing and earmarked each year for the spaces, events, or materials needed to deliver an anti-racist education (as executed through anti-racist courses, recruiting and retention, policy development, and/or support services described within this section). This allocation should be included and highlighted on the University’s Campaign Priorities page.

3. Curriculum: Integrate the Black Lives Matter course into the core curriculum as a requirement of graduates moving forward, starting with the Class of 2024. 

4. Curriculum: Require each department to offer a course centered on intersectionality, so that students are better equipped to engage in interacial dialogues focused on race, class, and gender while at Fairfield and in the workplace.

5. Campus Climate (Jail & Bail): Discontinue the Jail & Bail fundraiser hosted by the Department of Public Safety as it perpetuates the prison-industrial complex.

6. Campus Climate (Affinity Group): Establish and fund an Alumni of Color Association whose mandate will include hosting networking opportunities, developing a mentorship program, and facilitating service projects between current students of color and alumni of color. Specifically, funding should be allocated for a mentoring program between Black students and Black alumni. Develop a networking resource guide, including alumni contact information to aid in the career development of students of color.

7. Campus Climate (Mental Health Support): Commit to hiring two full-time Black therapists at the Mental Health Center.

8. Policy (Disciplinary Action): Revise disciplinary action policy to address racial disparities and racist actions: 

• Conduct a review of disciplinary action taken over the last five years to assess patterns in racial disparities.
• Include a section in the student handbook that addresses discipline against any racist actions committed by students and include specific sanctions that the conduct board may give those students.
• Produce an annual report that outlines violations of the University’s updated race- and discrimination-related policies and that contains an action plan for the following year to prevent such violations.

9. Community Partnerships: Expand existing resources and partnerships with organizations throughout the southern coast of Connecticut to diversify the University’s service portfolio and expand the University’s service reach with local communities, and students’ understanding of being men and women with and for others.

Section 2: Individual Racism – refers to an individual's racist assumptions, beliefs, or behaviors that stem from conscious and unconscious personal prejudice. 

1. Curriculum (Summer Reading): Require all incoming freshman, Class of 2024, to read a book chosen by the Anti-Racism Steering Committee that highlights how to become anti-racist or a stronger ally to the Black Lives Matter movement. Invite the author to speak at the Freshman Convocation.

2. Anti-Racist Resource Portal: In consultation with the Anti-Racism Steering Committee create a university-sponsored webpage of anti-racism resources. Portal should include a list of books, podcasts, webinars, etc.

3. Academic Enrichment: Invite prominent anti-racist speakers, leaders, and activists in this space to be guest lecturers in the 2020-2021 program of Open VISIONS. Require student attendance (not just for extra credit).

4. Professional Development for Board of Trustees: Require the President and Board of Trustees to actively participate in the ongoing anti-racism dialogue on campus, including attending various meetings around the topic, e.g. Racial Justice is Social Justice meetings.

5. Professional Development for Staff: Ensure that all Fairfield University Staff, Public Safety, Faculty, Clergy, and the Board of Trustees comply with an annual implicit bias and anti-racism training led by a trained facilitator, to be selected by the chair of the Anti-Racism Steering Committee.

6. Curriculum: Re-design the First-Year Experience class sessions to be focused on implicit bias and what it means to be anti-racist from their first semester. Additionally, provide implicit bias and anti-racist training to Student Leaders (e.g., FYE leaders, Residential Assistants, FUSA leaders, Orientation leaders, Retreat leaders (i.e., Kairos, Alternative Spring Break), etc., so they are equipped to facilitate these conversations with their small groups.

7. Student Life (Living & Learning Communities): For students residing in a Living & Learning Community (Residential College), offer a space for them to share resources about and participate in training and dialogue around anti-racism. Provide funding to residential colleges to support programming around this topic. Resident assistants are expected to each host one program per month, but could collaborate to run a larger, more impactful program. 

We believe Black lives matter, and Fairfield University must take action to make us certain that it believes Black lives matter, too. We are certain that if the strategies listed above are acted upon by the University the resulting changes will solidify the University’s position as anti-racist, service- and justice-oriented. 

We look forward to your response addressed to this team at FairfieldUAlumniResponseTeam@gmail.com by June 30, 2020. We want to be partners in moving this important work forward and after receiving your response, we would welcome the opportunity to meet with you to continue this necessary conversation. 

In solidarity,

Fairfield University Alumni Response Team