TO: The Campus Community
FROM: Timothy E. Sams, President
DATE: August 28, 2023
RE: Violence on Saturday Underscores OW's Importance
As we prepare for the start of classes, I needed to comment on the racially motivated murders that took place on Saturday, in Jacksonville, Florida. Any right-minded person must be shaken by yet another act of hate. Our hearts go out to the victims, their families, and everyone affected by this senseless act of violence. It is during such moments that we must draw strength from our shared humanity and commitment to building a better future.
Moreover, as we reflect on the 60th anniversary of the March on Washington, the milestone in the ongoing struggle for civil rights and equality that was celebrated also on Saturday, these murders serve as a poignant reminder that the fight for equality and justice is far from over. The March, which brought together people from all walks of life to advocate for the rights of Black individuals, emphasized the importance of unity, perseverance, and the recognition of every individual's inherent worth and the sanctity of life.
Unfortunately, we today must expect events like the one in Jacksonville to continue until we together create a different reality, especially considering the recent SCOTUS decision on affirmative action, attacks on DEIJ across the nation, legislative efforts to distort and undermine Black American’s histories, American nationalism frequently masking racial nationalism, and broad attacks occurring on protected people’s fundamental rights. While we are not surprised by such events, I encourage our community to avoid complacency and reaffirm our social justice ethic in our actions. What happened in Jacksonville should only strengthen our resolve to continue advocating for change and fostering environments that celebrate diversity and human worth.
To our new students, as we welcome you to this University, I am compelled to inform you that we at SUNY Old Westbury believe that education is a powerful tool in the fight against ignorance, prejudice, and hate. In fact, this founding principle has driven our brand of excellence, which we insist be informed by our staunch commitment to social justice. We have long insisted that our students learn from our vastly diverse community, with the goal of shaping brilliant leaders who march our nation and world toward its destiny with freedom. We are a community that provides a safe and inclusive living and learning space that honors free speech and expression and supports diversity of ideas, especially in the context of developing critical and ethical minds. SUNY Old Westbury holds that rigorous, honest, ethical, and civilized education challenges harmful stereotypes, promotes understanding, and paves the way for a more just society.
As our semester begins, we must use this past weekend as a social backdrop to underscore what has made SUNY Old Westbury important, relevant, and necessary across six decades. We were created out of the tumult of the 60s as an experimental college that would train graduates to use their intelligence to create a more just world. Saturday’s events demonstrate that we continue to be necessary and that our work must continue. We are excited to have our students coming back. The persistent concerns about the difficult conditions around us can serve as a fulcrum as we, together, work to heal, inspire change, and honor the legacy of those who have fought tirelessly for justice.
In solidarity,
Tim Sams
President