In light of recent events at the University of Missouri, Yale and institutions around the nation related to racial justice and racism, the UO community will have an opportunity to participate in a campus conversation centered on diversity, equity and inclusion.

Hosted by the Division of Equity and Inclusion, the event will take place Friday, Nov. 20, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Great Room of the Global Scholars Hall. Light refreshments will be provided.

Those planning to attend are asked to reserve a spot to ensure space is available. Reservations can be made here.

The event, titled “Lessons from Mizzou: A Campus Conversation and Planning Session,” is offered as a space to confront difficult issues of racial equity on campus.

President Michael Schill and Vice President for Equity and Inclusion Yvette Alex-Assensoh encourage administrators, faculty and staff to engage in thoughtful tabletop conversations by listening deeply to the concerns of students.

“We have an opportunity to move forward as a campus that embraces diversity, encourages equity, celebrates our differences, and stands up to racism,” Schill said in an all-campus message. “It is critically important for us, as a great university, not to turn away from hard conversations but to confront challenging issues thoughtfully and honestly.”

At the event, people will gather in small groups to talk and listen. At each table, six people will be joined by a facilitator and a note taker to encourage conversation and record thoughts and ideas, as part of an on-going process to address issues on the UO campus.

Information gathered at the event will be posted on the Lessons from Mizzou website and made part of the university’s ongoing effort to address problems and improve equity and inclusion on campus.

For the full text of the president’s message on the issue, click here. The full text from Alex-Assensoh’s email to campus is here. Additional information on the event and action items can be found on the DEI website.