The University of Arizona has sent out several statements about COVID-19 and how the administration plans to prevent a widespread outbreak on campus.
Over the past few weeks, various University of Arizona affiliated organizations and individuals have released statements regarding the killing of George Floyd and subsequent protests. We've compiled these statements below in reverse-chronological order.
UA's graduate coalition released another statement to their twitter calling on the UA to take action, citing multiple racist incidents on campus including the treatment of the "Arizona 3" and a black student who was assaulted on campus last year.
"We challenge the University of Arizona to be accountable and to take initiative to put substantive commitments into practice," the coalition said. "We call on the administration at the University of Arizona and on the Arizona Board of Regents to take concrete measures toward dismantling systems of oppression and violence on the University of Arizona campus and in our broader community."
Our statement of solidarity with the uprisings across the U.S. in response to police brutality and the ongoing murder of Black people. We call on @uarizona to defund the UAPD and cut ties with the police #BlackLivesMatterhttps://t.co/8JMVeSNrz5
— BLACK LIVES MATTER: UA Graduate Student Coalition (@UAgradcoalition) June 10, 2020
June 10: Adalberto and Ana Guerrero Student Center
The Guerrero center released a statement on Instagram supporting the black community and the Black Lives Matter movement.
"Most importantly, we must speak up when we hear folks making anti-Black comments, or when we see injustices happening, regardless of whether it is a classmate, roommate, friend, or even your mom or your abuelita," the center said.
Jen Hoefle Olson, director of LGTBQ affairs, urged the community in a listserv email to acknowledge the Stonewall Uprising, which protested police violence directed toward the LGBTQ+ community, especially among queer and trans people of color.
"Let’s honor this Pride Month by taking responsibility for educating ourselves about systemic racism and what we can do to help effect meaningful change," Olson said.
"All Black folx deserve life without the trauma that we have each experienced witnessing the death of Black people filmed without real consequences or change," AASA said on their Instagram. The post also included a call to action urging education, donation, listening to black leaders and protecting black lives.
"We join the thousands of people grieving, uprising and enraged at the deaths of Black trans, queer, women, men and children," the WGRC said in a statement on Instagram.
The statement also acknowledged that the university rests on Tohono O'odham land and said, "we need to acknowledge that we are complicit in state violence."
RHA said in a statement on Instagram they are in "full support" of the Black Lives Matter movement.
"We call on you all to utilize your voices and platforms to raise awareness, become a catalyst for change, and take action in these times of social injustice," they said, along with educational resources.
In his statement, Robbins said he was "sickened" by the footage of Floyd's death and we should collectively advocate for civil, educational, economic and healthcare justice for the black community.
"Compassion, integrity and inclusion can help us move forward, and demand better," Robbins said. "As a community, we must challenge ourselves to do more to be welcoming, inclusive, supportive and kind — and to stand side by side with the most vulnerable among us."
"Campus Recreation stands in solidarity with those working for racial justice on campus, in Tucson, and across the world," they said on their Instagram.
Brian Seastone, chief of UAPD, said that Floyd's death at the hands of a police officer was "appalling to me as both a citizen and as a law enforcement professional."
He said he reiterated his commitment to being open to the community and can be reached at seastone@arizona.edu.
— University of Arizona Police (@UArizonaPolice) June 3, 2020
June 1: Campus Health
Campus Health encouraged students to take care of their mental and physical health during challenging times in a statement on Twitter.
"Our hearts ache after the brutal killing last week of Mr. George Floyd ... We are here to help and support you," the statement said. "Please do not hesitate to reach out to us at Campus Health/CAPS."
"We demand that our respective universities immediately terminate all of their relations with police departments and private security companies," the coalition said in a statement linked to their Twitter. "These policing institutions enact the same violence in our own communities as we have seen this week in Minneapolis, and through these relations our universities support this violence and continue to uphold the white supremacy that is foundational to this country."
Alongside grad student workers across the country, we call for an end to police terror and anti-blackness, and we demand our university cuts ties with police departments#XCampusnocopshttps://t.co/jkYvhjsEU5
— BLACK LIVES MATTER: UA Graduate Student Coalition (@UAgradcoalition) June 1, 2020
June 1: Associated Students of the University of Arizona
"ASUA stands in solidarity with the Black community," ASUA wrote on their Instagram. "We encourage all students and community members to learn about, reflect on and speak out against continued brutality and injustices against Black lives."
The post contained educational resources, reflection prompts and numbers to text in support of the movement.
