The following is a message from ETSU President Brian Noland to students, faculty and staff on April 2, 2021.
Dear Members of the ETSU Community,
I hope that on this holiday weekend you are enjoying time with loved ones. I would
like to take this opportunity to talk about the feelings that many are expressing
over the decision by Coach Jason Shay to resign as the head coach of the men’s basketball
program.
Over the course of the past few weeks, significant internal and external focus has
been placed upon the campus of East Tennessee State University. The diversity and
intensity of this scrutiny is palpable, as are the associated feelings of pain, hurt,
and anger. Universities are curators of the truth and we have a responsibility to
serve as common ground for debate, dialogue, discovery, and understanding, all of
which occur with a purposeful sense of civil discourse. I have spoken with many across
our campus who are disheartened by these recent events and feel like ETSU is not a
place where they belong. I am pained that our community is hurting and I want to reassure
each of you that ETSU is committed to being an inclusive institution where all are
welcome to explore ideas and opportunities for growth and expression.
In order for growth to occur, we must acknowledge that many in society have experienced
injustice. It is clear that there is deep hurt in the African American community,
and I have heard from many that they feel, at a minimum, ignored, mistreated and disrespected.
I have also heard that many veterans, service members and their families feel disrespected
and that their sacrifices are unappreciated. It is incumbent upon all of us as members
of the campus community to recognize and respect these feelings.
We must also acknowledge, unequivocally, that racial injustices and systemic racism
exist. This includes the fact that some individuals, myself among them, have benefitted
from certain privileges based on race. Research, statistics, and the lived experiences
of our fellow Bucs demonstrate this heart-wrenching reality. As you have heard me
say many times, the mission of East Tennessee State University is to improve the quality
of life in our communities. We cannot fulfill that mission if we ignore the injustices
that people of color and other underrepresented groups face.
Over the past 18 months, we have taken significant steps to ensure that equity and
inclusion is a foremost priority at ETSU. Under the leadership of the Office of Equity
and Inclusion, we have expanded curricular and extracurricular opportunities to share
cross cultural histories and experiences. This includes expanding resources and programming
for the Mary V. Jordan Multicultural Center, the Women’s Resource Center, and the
Black Faculty and Staff Association. Additionally, to support our LGBTQ+ community,
we established the Dr. Patricia Robertson Pride Center in the D.P. Culp Student Center.
We have also established several new scholarship programs to provide equitable access
to higher education for underrepresented students. These initiatives are significant,
but they are not enough.
As part of our emerging strategic visioning process, the Committee for 125 Chapter
II, we have established a taskforce specifically focused on supporting diversity and
inclusion and addressing social injustices. This taskforce will be chaired by Dr.
Janna Scarborough and its composition will be announced next week. Their work will
inform our ongoing planning as well as provide an analysis of the current campus climate
based upon a survey that the Office of Equity and Inclusion will administer later
this semester. From this work, the taskforce will develop a long-term and comprehensive
equity and inclusion action plan at ETSU.
Healing is going to take time, but I am committed to improving and continuing to support
our student athletes as well as all of our students, faculty, and staff. We have
had one of the hardest years ever in higher education, and our nation as a whole is
seeing record increases in mental distress as we have been separated from one another
for over a year. I have always felt that ETSU was a source of inspiration and hope
for our region. I believe we are a place that provides fertile soil for change, and
I hope that you know that my commitment to our equity and inclusion goals is unwavering.
I hope everyone enjoys their holiday weekend and finds time to reflect upon the work
in front us to promote healing.
Sincerely,
Brian Noland
President