Navigating Through Difficult Times
In the wake of the recent killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery, the university, city, and country are facing a challenging time. Eileen L. Strempel, Inaugural Dean of the UCLA School of Music, has encouraged the community to find comfort in shared humanity and the hope for justice.
Strempel has urged self-care and support during these distressing times, advocating for resources shared by the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine for people of color after psychological trauma. She has also offered self-care resources for those struggling during this painful week.
The killings expose deep wounds of racism that have plagued the country for a long time. Strempel believes that inaction and silence are complacent and convey a grave indifference to the suffering around them. Equity, respect, and social justice are central to the well-being of the school and the world.
Strempel has promised to listen with an open heart and maintain hope for deeper understanding, respect, and meaningful reform. She believes that until we listen to the voice of the unheard and respond with justice, we will not know true peace.
In a call to action, Strempel has emphasised the importance of recognizing the pain felt by the Black community and offering support. She has recommended resources for engaging in anti-racism at work and has encouraged all members of the school community to listen, embrace anti-racist practices, confront hatred and bigotry, and educate themselves about the structures, issues, and assumptions that perpetuate racism.
Universities, including UCLA, can combat racism and foster inclusive excellence through proactive, engaged anti-racist practices. This includes integrating anti-racist training and resources across all levels of the institution, actively addressing discriminatory patterns in hiring and scholarships, promoting scholarship and visibility of underrepresented groups, and ensuring that institutional mission statements and policies explicitly support anti-racist goals.
In practice, this could involve faculty and staff workshops on anti-racism and inclusive pedagogy, revision of curricula to highlight diverse contributions and histories, transparent recruitment and retention strategies aimed at enhancing diversity, platforms for students and faculty to discuss race-related issues openly, and accountability measures to monitor progress toward equity and inclusion.
Strempel has emphasized the need for an active, ongoing, institution-wide commitment rather than passive statements. By embedding anti-racist work into all university functions, institutions advance beyond compliance toward genuine inclusive excellence.
The school has more work to do to combat racism and foster inclusive excellence. Strempel has recommended resources shared by the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine as helpful tools for understanding and healing. She has also called for everyone to pause and acknowledge those who have lost and suffered from hatred, prejudice, and racism.
"Strempel encourages self-care and support, emphasizing the importance of educating oneself about anti-racism as a means of fostering inclusive excellence and social justice within the school community."
"In line with her commitment to combat racism, Strempel suggests engaging in anti-racist practices at work, listening to the unheard voice, and supporting underrepresented groups, as key steps towards equity, respect, and justice."
