Dear Esteemed Colleagues,
We, SAIC Black Futures and our allies, are writing today as concerned faculty: concerned for the wellbeing of our students, staff, and fellow faculty, amidst what are undoubtedly troubled times.
Specifically, we write to recognize that our students need to hear direct acknowledgement of their grief and anger from those in positions meant to provide support and stewardship through their creative and intellectual development. We ask that you join us in our effort to affirm that their sorrow and outrage are indeed justified. In the absence of a firm and forthright statement from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago’s leadership condemning the egregious violations of the rights of the Palestinian people since October 7 and over the last 75 years, we have drafted the attached letter. We ask for you to show support by contributing your signature and that you share this invitation with other SAIC faculty.
Change may be set in motion by a few but creating a sustainable impact on our community will take many. We recognize the precarity and risk involved with visibility and thank you for standing alongside us in this time of monumental shifts.
