Greetings Advisors,
I hope this message finds you well amid all that’s going on right now. How am I? I am a Black man, typing his first blog post as the incoming Region 2 Communications Chair with George Floyd’s memorial service playing in the background. I am writing with feelings of disappointment, anger, sadness, and uncertainty. Yet, I am writing with hopes that oppressive structures will be dismantled, institutional cultures will change, and that members in our educational communities will unite against systemic injustice.
This Tuesday, our Executive Office shared a message with members condemning racial violence and police brutality. I acknowledge that our advising community extends far beyond membership, so I want to take a moment to echo the charge for us all to address issues of systemic racism and violence. Taking a stand may be difficult for some of us, but it is necessary. I will type that again: It is necessary.
Many of us are wondering where to start. Many of us are concerned about how our titles, jobs, and relationships will be impacted by speaking up and out. And yes -- many of us are concerned about leaning into our discomfort, being vulnerable, and asking questions. These feelings are not unique and are shared by many of us. However, being uncomfortable is no reason to remain silent. We cannot afford to miss this opportunity to connect with our students, colleagues, and surrounding communities; we’re in this too. Below are a few ways to take a stand and take care of yourself and others in the process.
Check in with your people. Engage in sincere conversations with your students, colleagues, and community members. Although “How are you?” tends to be the brief start to our daily conversations, we should embrace and follow through with people who answer that question honestly. Make a point to ask how someone is doing and take the time to acknowledge those feelings before continuing the conversation. Normalize the feelings of disappointment, anger, sadness, and fear. At the same time, be willing to be vulnerable in sharing your feelings and provide words of encouragement.
Our advising and collegial relationships are grounded in honesty, respect, and care. Thus, let’s recognize when we need to provide additional support. Check in with your campus partners and share resources for counseling, social support, or wellness activities with those who need them. You must also know when to ask for help or a shoulder to lean on.
Not everyone is willing to share their feelings, and that’s okay. Whether explicitly stated or not, it is important to be aware of the heavy feelings many of our students and colleagues (particularly our Black ones) are carrying.
Make the stand against systemic injustice visible. Whether it is reposting your institution’s or department’s statement, or sharing your stance in daily conversations, you must be explicit in condemning acts of racism and injustice.
I oversee my office’s social media accounts. I reposted my institution’s statement to affirm our commitment to creating a just society. Shortly afterward, other departments began to follow suit. Although I cannot state that my post created this movement, it was great to see my colleagues engaging students (and their followers) this way. Getting people to comment or like the post was not the goal; I needed people to see where we stand. When we become visible in this front, people will trust that we share their values. Our students, colleagues, and community members are watching us more than we know.
Make the conversation necessary. If your institution or department has not made a statement, try to engage them in conversations about our obligations to the field and our communities. No one has all of the answers, nor can we expect everyone to understand the impact of racism on the people who face it daily. If you don’t know where to begin, ask questions, do your research, and ask more questions. Let’s use this opportunity to teach students, colleagues, and community members about the long-standing history of racism and modern-day structures that preserve systemic injustices and encourage them to take a stand with us.
We must bring the conversation to the decision-making table. As we develop practices for diversity, equity, and inclusion, we must examine and deconstruct institutional policies and practices that contribute to these oppressive structures. This is perfect timing as advisors and administrators examine the data of students who did not perform well or didn’t graduate this semester. What better way to create institutional change as we prepare to welcome our incoming classes? If you are not in the position to “shake the table,” share the message with your supervisor or colleagues who can.
Take care of yourself. We are navigating personal and professional lives during the height of social unrest and a global pandemic. With that said, we must know when to do our job and “sign off” for the day. We must promise ourselves to engage in activities that we enjoy, even if it means asking for a day off (or two) to regroup. I picked up painting, but I am interested in hearing other ways that we can incorporate mental health and wellness into our lives during this time.
There is no one size-fits-all-approach for every individual, department, or institution, but I hope that this blog brings about some much-needed thought. The Executive Office’s message reminds us of our core values and obligations as advisors. With that said, the conversation does not end here. Let us stand with our students and colleagues to address LGBTQ+ issues, sexism, and sexual assault issues, as well. We’re in this together.
Below are resources shared by the Executive Office. Please share how you and your colleagues/institution joined the conversation on systemic injustice and took a stand!
Resources
· Anti-racism Resources for White
People (Specifically for allies)
· Do The Work: Rachel Cargle (Specifically
for allies)
· For Our White Friends Desiring to
Be Allies (Specifically for allies)
· No White Saviors (Specifically
for allies)
If you have ideas or recommendations for additional support or resources NACADA can provide, please contact President Erin Justyna at erin.justyna@ttuhsc.edu or Executive Director Charlie Nutt at cnutt@ksu.edu
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