coe-staff: A thought for today

[Dianna Carrizales-Engelmann]

Dear Faculty and Staff,

I started an email intending to send out our draft agenda for the Friday March 11th faculty and staff meeting, but found that the timing doesn't feel right. I will plan to send it on Monday.

We find ourselves in the middle of another international crisis. Another strange, "there-are-no-words" event that bewilders us all and distracts us and our students from our typical activities as we worry again for the safety of people, family, and friends far away who are displaced and vulnerable, as well as those closer to home who are worried for loved ones. Yet again, we find ourselves wondering what we can do, how we can help, and whether it's really okay to go through with the typical mechanics of our days when so many people are in distress. It makes us think of those newly in distress, as well as remember those still in distress, and consider those who are again in distress, and it makes us feel guilty for the options we have around us that -- in a moment like this --  seem so plentiful in comparison (like the option to sit safely at a computer and send an agenda). And it is this very juxtaposition of the seemingly "distant" tragedy along with our proximal normalcy that was raised in a meeting this morning. This is a dissonance we've experienced before and have not mastered.

In terms of the "what can we do?", I go again to the small things. While most of us cannot picture what it feels like to be suddenly displaced, one small thing we can do is to know that there are those among us for whom this is real, this is proximal, and who have had firsthand experience with this particular type of sadness. Know that it will not always be obvious who that is. So, as with all shared sadness, start small, start near, be kind to yourselves, your loved ones, your students, and colleagues, but listen and watch for the opportunities to step in in a bigger way. Those are probably closer than we realize. I am sure there are better words than these to acknowledge this strange time, nested in strange times, but wanted to offer you the grace of small things as you step into your weekend.

Dianna

Learn about COE DEI Activities here: https://education.uoregon.edu/diversity-equity-and-inclusion
UO Equity and Inclusion Resources. Listen. Learn. Act. https://around.uoregon.edu/listen-learn-act
Cultural Humility Resources https://inclusion.uoregon.edu/cultural-humility-toolkit
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Dianna Carrizales-Engelmann, PhD
Assistant Dean for Administration, Equity, and Inclusion, College of Education
dcarriza at uoregon.edu<mailto:dcarriza at uoregon.edu> |
1215 University of Oregon | Eugene, OR 97403-5277

I support all students regardless of immigration status or country of origin. As a Dreamer Ally, I support Dreamer students and promote their sense of belonging and safety as they pursue their higher education goals. For more information and resources please visit our Dreamers<https://www.uoregon.edu/dreamers> page and the Immigration FAQs<https://international.uoregon.edu/immigration_faq> page. I commit to not sharing your status with anyone if you reveal it to me, but also remind you that when interacting with faculty, staff, and offices around campus you are never required to reveal your immigration status.
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