In the midst of so much upheaval, there is a great theme of progress.
On our own campus, we are undergoing a lot of physical transformation on the path to realizing our Facilities Master Plan. Facilities are being renovated, a new Alternative Fuels Building has broken ground and new landscaping is taking root after extensive repair, replacement and upgrades to our utilities infrastructure.
I can’t help but think about the comparison of this construction work to the other work we are undertaking in how we do the work of teaching and learning and living together. We have been awakened with a greater sense of urgency to improve how we treat each other and learn about each other’s struggles.
This month has reminded us to engage more in conversations about race and bias, which we have done on campus through a series of workshops and frank discussions. We are learning how to be anti-racist, and to more broadly acknowledge and celebrate Juneteenth, the commemoration of emancipation from slavery in the United States. We know there is still much work to do.
We also participated in Pride Month, acknowledging the contributions of LGBTQ people among our community. We commemorate the Stonewall Uprising, which happened in New York 51 years ago this week, when LGBTQ people rose up against oppressive treatment and fought for equal rights in society. We know there is still much work to do.
It seems appropriate for this activity and awareness and change to happen on the eve of Independence Day. The promise of America is not a victory won long ago, but a constant work in progress. Each generation awakens to the need for change and improvement in how it treats others. SUNY Morrisville is proud to participate in that change. While it is not easy, and is often uncomfortable, we are committed to engaging in the difficult but transformative work that makes us a better place.