Proposed by the Senate Executive Committee -
In response to hate crimes and intolerance leading up to and following the Presidential election of 2016:
As the California Senate President pro Tem and Assembly Speaker said in a joint statement last week, "California is – and must always be – a refuge of justice and opportunity for people of all walks, talks, ages and aspirations – regardless of how you look, where you live, what language you speak, or who you love.”
The Executive Committee believes firmly in the potential of every human for growth, and we believe passionately in the SSU and CSU values of inclusion, multicultural diversity, and social justice. Many students have already overcome significant obstacles in their paths to get to SSU, and their determination fuels our shared commitment to empowering all people—including those who face oppression and marginalization—to reach their full potential to challenge injustice and contribute to making the world a better place.
We remind the campus community of SSU’s policy of a violence free campus (http://www.sonoma.edu/UAffairs/policies/violence.htm) and encourage all members of the community to listen and be respectful in all discourse. We understand that there are strong emotions related to the recent election and ask that students, staff, faculty and administrators find appropriate ways to express and discuss such emotions.
The University must be a community that is safe for all students to learn. This requires mutual respect and a feeling of safety on campus for all students.
For any students feeling fearful or unsafe or unheard, whatever the situation, know that you are not alone and that there are campus resources that are available to support you: the HUB runs many programs for people to connect (www.sonoma.edu/hub/ or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/sonomastatehub); Counseling and Psychological Services offers individual counseling for students in crisis and therapy groups (www.sonoma.edu/counselingctr/). If you are ever faced with an immediate threat, you should call 911 to be connected to campus police (if you are on campus) or local police.
We, the members of the Academic Senate Executive Committee at Sonoma State University, affirm that SSU is, and shall remain, a safe space for all students regardless of race, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, or immigration status. It is our shared responsibility to hold our political leaders to account if these values are threatened.