March 23, 2020
A message from Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer Bryan Samuel
Dear K-State Family,
As we navigate the new normal of social distancing and telecommuting in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we also request that you remain mindful of our institutional values and our Principles of Community.
We recognize that these international issues can affect communities in a myriad of ways and members of some communities can become targets of bias and insensitivity. We ask our students, faculty and staff to refrain from allowing concerns for COVID-19 to morph into generalizations and assumptions based on the physical traits and characteristics of our community members. This virus is equally threatening to us all and we must show care and concern for everyone.
We encourage you all to do what you can to minimize any fears or anxieties resulting from COVID-19 as we do not want to alienate, devalue or stigmatize members of our community based on false assumptions. While silence about any insensitive remark or incident might be misconstrued as acceptance, we ask our faculty and staff to respectfully address any such matters should they occur.
For guidance on navigating any such occurrences, please reach out to me at bsamuel1@k-state.edu.
With caring,
Bryan Samuel, CCDP/AP
Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer