In a letter to campus marking the beginning of the spring semester, Chancellor Randy Woodson emphasized the university’s commitment to promoting tolerance and diversity.
“At NC State, we take seriously our commitment to welcome all people regardless of age, color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status,” he said. “As reflected in the key goals set forth in our strategic plan, NC State will continue striving to be more diverse and to continually enhance a culture that values empathy, respect, tolerance and equality for all.”
Referencing protests that have erupted nationwide in response to a police shooting of an unarmed black man in Ferguson, Missouri, and the chokehold death of a black man in Staten Island, New York, during a confrontation with police, Woodson noted, “NC State is not immune to the serious, sometimes divisive issues facing our nation.”
He urged faculty, staff and students to work for social justice.
“As a university dedicated to educating our future leaders, we have a responsibility to foster dialogue and lead change that will help ensure a just and civil society,” he said.
He also stressed the importance of respecting differing viewpoints.
“As members of the university community, we are fortunate to have a campus climate that encourages and supports the expression of differing thoughts and opinions between individuals and groups,” he said. “At NC State, we support and encourage these discussions in a respectful and safe environment.”
Woodson invited NC State faculty, staff and students to attend upcoming campus and community events honoring the work of the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The campus commemoration includes a speech next Monday, Jan. 12, by MSNBC host Melissa Harris-Perry. Her talk, titled “We Can’t Breathe: The Continuing Consequences of Structural Inequality Fifty Years After King,” is scheduled for 6 p.m. in the Talley Student Union ballroom. The event is sponsored by the African American Cultural Center.
The chancellor’s letter is available online.
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