On Saturday, July 18, 2020, the members of BIPOC Artists for Awareness (Instagram/Facebook) delivered a statement to the Department of Theatre. This statement was posted on social media and emailed to our faculty and staff; it was also distributed to University leadership and the Board of Trustees. In the interest of accountability and transparency we are including the statement from the BIPOC Artists for Awareness here, with permission, along with our departmental response. By doing this we hope to demonstrate our commitment to amplifying BIPOC stories, perspectives, and histories as presented in their own words.
BIPOC Artists for Awareness Statement
Response from the Department of Theatre
We are still hard at work educating ourselves and developing a comprehensive departmental response designed to prioritize measurable change and emphasize our commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion. We are committed to the work of anti-racism as an ongoing process. We are identifying and responding to manifestations of structural racial inequality and implicit bias, both in our department and in the culture/industry of academic and professional theatre. Throughout this process we will provide regular and transparent communication about our progress as we create policies and initiatives consistent with our core values and goals.
Learn more about the University of Utah's resources and support organizations for BIPOC students, staff, and faculty:
- The Office of Equal Opportunity And Affirmative Action (OEO/AA) is dedicated to providing a fair and equitable environment for all to pursue their academic and professional endeavors and to equally access University programs. For more information on the University of Utah’s Office of Equal Opportunity And Affirmative Action, visit their website.
- If you wish to report a bias incident, please visit https://safeu.utah.edu/how-do-i-report/
- Read the University’s statement on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion here.
- Check in with your “U Crew” regularly to see how they are doing. Learn more about this initiative here.
- Explore the phenomenal variety of campus resources for BIPOC students, including the Center for Ethnic Student Affairs (CESA), LGBT Resource Center, Black Cultural Center, American Indian Resource Center, Student Success Advocates, University Counseling Center (UCC), Feed U Pantry or Financial Aid. Other resources for students can be found here.
- As part of its strategic plan, the College of Fine Arts has created multiple initiatives to foster equity, diversity, and inclusion. To learn more, click here.