Dear Members of the Emmanuel College Community,
The killing of George Floyd last week at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer—witnessed passively by fellow officers—has struck at the soul of our nation. Video of the incident has starkly and undeniably exposed a truth that many would prefer to dismiss, or simply not think about—namely, that in 2020, Black Americans continue to suffer real oppression and even death as a result of personal and systemic racism. It seems that, for all the technological wonders and material abundance of our modern era, a troubling internal disorder persists. When it comes to the most important measure of a society—its moral progress—America is failing.
As I wrote to current students, faculty and staff this past Saturday, the events in Minneapolis have laid bare centuries-old rifts in the fabric of our nation. The peaceful protests that have continued to spring up in recent days are the crying out of our collective conscience. They are an alarm bell announcing that the time has come, indeed is long overdue, for us as a people to recognize that the violation of African Americans’ inalienable rights continues unabated. What in past centuries took the forms of slavery and Jim Crow continues today in ingrained bigotry, structural inequality, and, as we have seen so often, outright violence.
The names say it all. Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, Eric Garner, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, the list goes on. They join the likes of Emmett Till, Medgar Evers and other martyrs of the Civil Rights Movement whose deaths shook our nation and spurred long-needed action in the 1960s. More than a half-century later, the moment for action has once again arrived. Now is the time for courageous public-square conversations about enduring inequalities in areas including housing, criminal justice, hiring, and healthcare. In just the last three months, we have seen Black people experiencing inordinate suffering as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, with death rates in many cities substantially disproportionate to their percentage of the population. We need to change that. Additionally, we need to recognize and eliminate the manifold ways in which Black people are marginalized in contemporary American society, subjected to unreasonable suspicion, and excluded in subtle, everyday ways simply because of the color of their skin.
At Emmanuel, we continue to address such issues through serious academic inquiry and discussion, as well as comprehensive student programming and resources. Additionally, the Black Student Union, which this year is marking its 50th anniversary, provides ongoing leadership in voicing the needs and concerns of Black students on campus. Still, we recognize what Martin Luther King, Jr., called “the fierce urgency of now” and are committed to renewing our efforts to understand the root causes of racism and division, while enhancing an atmosphere of authentic welcome, openness and inclusion on campus. This is the ongoing purpose of the President’s Commission on Diversity & Inclusion, which, immediately following the murder of George Floyd, scheduled a listening forum for students, faculty and staff. The forum took place on Monday; an additional forum is scheduled for tomorrow.
“The greatest challenge of the day,” wrote Catholic Worker Movement co-founder Dorothy Day, “is how to bring about a revolution of the heart?” As unsettling as these times are, they offer a historic opportunity for honest introspection, healing, reconciliation, and lasting progress. With God’s grace, let us rise to the moment.
Sister Janet Eisner, SNDdeN
President
Propelled by a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant, students and faculty in the Mathematics Department are studying the rate of evolution in spatially structured populations using evolutionary graph theory, which may inform the estimation of important events in our evolutionary past, such as when humans split from our closest primate relatives.
Assistant Professor of Communications and Media Studies Mark Flynn and Tristyn Suprenant ’20 take a look at food advertisements and the effects of mindfulness on television binge watching.
In collaboration with Emmanuel graduate, Kierstin Giunco ’17, Associated Professor of Education Christine Leighton and current student Kayla Balthazar '20 are working with local elementary students to deepen reading engagement and comprehension.
As her research in economics education has focused on innovation in the classroom and finding ways to help students apply economic theories to real-world situations, students are vital in every aspect to Associate Professor of Economics Rebecca Moryl’s work.
When choosing a college, Eileen knew two things for sure—that she would be able to get to know her professors and peers and that she wanted to be in an area in which she would have myriad opportunities in the research and medicine.
When Melissa started at Emmanuel, she chose what she believed to be two separate and distinct majors—studio art and history—to fulfill her both her personal and professional interests.
Kai has always had the inclination to try to make any situation better. When he was searching for colleges, Emmanuel's social justice mission resounded deeply with his ideals of supporting those who need the help.
Robert’s interest in the workings of the wider world grew in 2011 as the Arab Spring became international news. “I love history,” he said, “so knowing the history of the states as well as their current affairs made their actions and interactions much more interesting to me.”
Growing up in a suburban town outside of Boston, going to college in the city had always been a goal for Jake. After touring Emmanuel's campus he felt it had the perfect mixture of “small campus feel and big city appeal.”
Michael chose Emmanuel because of its location in Boston and its proximity to the city's "big players," specifically its leading names in the financial industry.
What began as an on-campus job in Emmanuel's student center transformed into a new career path for Jessie, one that brought her to Harvard University as a master's candidate in higher education administration.
Chemistry graduate Jennifer Scarborough '17 has found a way to combine her love for science and education. She shares her enthusiasm for the subjects as an education associate in the Hall of Human Life exhibit at Museum of Science Boston—one of the top science museums in the country (according to National Geographic).
Emmanuel is a place where students broaden their sense of what’s possible and prepare for inspiring careers in an ever-changing world. Be here.
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