Email from NSU’s Diversity Action Pillar Team Announcing Creation of Chauvin Trial Safe Space

The following email was sent to the NSU community on April 21, 2021 on behalf of the Diversity Action Pillar Team and Athletic Council on Community, Culture, and Social Justice.

Dear Northern Community,

The Diversity Action Pillar Team and Athletic Council on Community, Culture, and Social Justice ask our community to take a moment to acknowledge the conviction of Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd yesterday in Minneapolis, MN. We hope this conviction is the start of healing for the Floyd family, the community of Minneapolis, and our country. We acknowledge that we are all connected, and suffering knows no boundaries. To our Black students, staff, and faculty we say, “we see you, and we support you.”

We are grounded by Northern’s value of “building a culture of inclusion, belonging and collegiality that respects diversity in knowledge, culture and world view.” The murder of George Floyd was a violation of human rights and we are grateful for a just outcome in this phase of the criminal justice process.

Students, staff, and faculty who need a space to process the events of the day are welcome to the Multicultural Affairs Center in Avera Student Center room 201 from Monday through Friday, from 9am until 5pm. We acknowledge that the topics of racism and police brutality are complex, with varying perspectives. We ask our community to respect that this space is not the appropriate one for political or philosophical debate.

The Diversity Action Pillar Team and Athletic Council on Community, Culture, and Social Justice are committed to supporting the Northern community as it strives to live out its values in ways that allow our Black students to be able to breath, feel safe, valued, and included in our community. 

This is an important moment in our history, and warrants reflection and dialogue. We encourage everyone to have these conversations with friends, family, and colleagues.

If you have suggestions for DAPT and CCSJ efforts, you are encouraged to provide it here. 

Sincerely,

Megan J. Frewaldt
Diversity Action Pillar Team, Co-Chair

Isaiah G. Nolan
Athletic Council on Community, Culture, and Social Justice, President