With Black History Month in full swing, interim UO President Scott Coltrane is calling on the university community to keep discussions about race, justice and privilege going in the wake of recent events highlighting the nation’s continued struggle with issues of equity and equality.

“Now is a great time for all of us to practice skills associated with deliberative democracy, including debating ideas, engaging in active listening, and feeling empathy for people with different backgrounds and opinions,” he says. “Some might say the future of our democracy depends on such discussions.”

Coltrane says he will soon be gathering campus leaders to come up with ways the UO can add to such discussions both locally and nationally and to identify ways promote justice on campus and beyond. For the full text of the message, see the president’s website.

For a calendar of Black History Month events on campus, visit the Office of Equity and Inclusion website.