We are three white people who do not live on the receiving end of racism. Yet, in part because of our
positions of leadership, but mostly
because of the humanity we share with all, we feel a strong need to
respond to racism and other forms of discrimination in our community when they come to light.
Deeply concerned with this pernicious wrong, we struggle personally and professionally knowing that we must all work together as friends, neighbors, fellow workers and
members of our community to find a better, healing way.
More than a century ago, the great Russian writer Leo Tolstoy asked, “How, then, shall we live?” In doing so, he focused on how he should and must treat his fellow human beings.
In this same vein, each one of us must ask the same question: How shall I treat the woman I work with, the man who cuts my hair, the child in my classroom, the family in the restaurant? How shall I respond in thought and actions to the diversity, racial and otherwise, that comprises the world we live in?
At the University, the very basis
of what we are as an educational
institution cries out for diversity. We must have that diversity, not only in ideas and intellectual offerings, but in people. We must have the breadth of experience that comes from a
multitude of cultural experiences. We must have the richness offered by history and art, and the music and beliefs that expand our knowledge and our lives.
In our cities and our greater
community, we are deeply concerned that there are some who feel we do not recognize acts of racism and do not consistently respond to reduce
the incidence of such acts. Recent
discussions regarding school achievement gaps, exodus of employees and racial profiling have brought to light some of the inequities lived and felt by men, women and children in our community. We strongly believe in finding ways to hear where we are failing and commit ourselves to
improvement and action.
There is a pragmatic side to this
discussion. As improving the climate for diversity and tolerance can enhance our regional and national reputation, it can also improve our ability to recruit and retain quality companies and
employees, as well as the health and strength of our local economy. Toward this end, in a partnership of local school districts, municipalities and utilities,
we will sign a memorandum of
understanding on March 4, reaffirming our commitment to the Diversity and Human Rights Consortium and its
efforts to address human rights and
diversity issues of mutual interest.
Lane County recently celebrated the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a life dedicated to overcoming hateful discrimination of all types. He
understood, and communicated
eloquently, the need to move beyond “just the way things are.” If racism and intolerance are “just the way things are” here in our community, we must be willing to honestly
examine ourselves and find ways to struggle toward something better,
toward Dr. King’s “mountain top.”
“How, then, shall we live?”
is a question we must answer.
Acknowledging the difficulties
that lie ahead, we pledge ourselves to move surely and meaningfully
toward actions that will answer it
for the betterment of all citizens
in our community.
Dave Frohnmayer is president
of the University, Sid Leiken
is mayor of Springfield, and
Kitty Piercy is mayor of Eugene
