OMA News
Office of Multicultural Affairs at Seattle University
In Mourning & In Solidarity
Hey OMA family,
You may have already read my message last week via email. If so, please excuse the redundancy.
Over the last few months, our world has endured much collective chaos, stress, and trauma. This pandemic has challenged our creativity, strength, and resiliency. In many ways, we have seen the beauty of community - people coming together to support family, friends, neighbors, and strangers in a time of great need.
And. This pandemic did not hit “pause” on the ugly, the hateful, and the violent ways racism runs rampant in our society. We cannot ignore the xenophobic attitudes and actions towards the Asian-American community that have harmed real people and businesses. And we cannot condone the continued policing of black and brown bodies and the senseless murders of unarmed black people.
In the last few weeks, we witnessed and continue to mourn the loss of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, Tony McDade, and David McAtee. And in our mourning, we believe it is important to remind you that we cannot and do not align with hate, bigotry, violence, and racism.
To our black students, staff, and faculty, I offer these words to you:
For the exhausted, we embrace you.
For the weary, we weep with you.
For the angry, we fight with you.
For the hopeless, we hold you.
For all of you, we see you.
We see you and we love you.
Because your life matters.
To all of us, even with uncertainty and chaos, our commitment to diversity, inclusion, and justice cannot take a backseat. We must continue to be vigilant and engaged. We must not lose hope, we must not be silent, and we must not be complicit. We must be educated, and we must be in this together.
Warmly,
Michelle Minjoe Kim
Director, Office of Multicultural Affairs
Message from your Black Student Union (BSU)
Lament and Hope: A Vigil for Racial Justice
On Zoom
Please join the Seattle University community on Thursday for Lament and Hope: A Vigil for Racial Justice, a time for collective embrace, remembrance and support.
George Floyd Teach-in
Thursday, June 4 at 1:00-2:00p.m.
Please RSVP here for this virtual event
All are invited to participate in an online George Floyd Teach-in about the factual and legal aspects of George Floyd’s death at the hands of Minneapolis police and the resulting demonstrations.
School of Law Professors Bryan Adamson, Deborah Ahrens and Ayesha Bell Hardaway (Case Western Reserve University) will facilitate a conversation directed toward everyday citizens seeking to make sense out of the Floyd tragedy. They will discuss the killing, the criminal process from charging to trial, the facts and evidence presently known and the intersections of race, gender, and law enforcement.
Black Rites of Passage
Friday, June 5th at 3pm
Zoom meeting ID: 974 3528 9726
The 2019-2020 school year has certainly been unique. Our community has shown great resilience and accomplished great things over this school year that we want to highlight! Join OMA and the African Student Association for Black Rites of Passage, a virtual end of year celebration!
Last APID/A Virtual Hangout
Zoom meeting ID: 918 9347 1150
If you identify as part of the APID/A diaspora, we invite you to join us for a virtual community space! This will be an opportunity for real talk, for laughter, and for meaningful relationship building.
EOY Celebrations
Lavender Graduation
Friday, June 12th at 4pm
Zoom meeting ID: 926 1105 7750
Graduating Students of Color Celebration
Saturday, June 13th at 4pm
Zoom meeting ID: 953 8672 8502
Congratulations Class of 2020!
If you haven't seen it yet, check out this Virtual Greeting Card created for you.
SU Food Pantry is OPEN
Pre-Order & Pick-Up on Wednesdays 3-6pm or Thursdays 11am-2pm
Located in OMA (PAVL 180)
In order to best serve our SU and greater Seattle community during this time, we are operating a pre-bagged and pick-up only operation. The "Pick-Up Order Form" can be found on ConnectSU and we ask that you submit this form by noon on Wednesday each week. More information about our current operations can be found on our website.
Summer Hours TBA.
Check out our Instagram for the most up-to-date information. Website update and email to come later as well!