The power of diversity
Penn State Shenango Campus Director Jo Anne Carrick affirms that we are dedicated to an environment of respect and inclusion, as well as support services for students in a letter to the campus community.
To the Penn State Shenango community,
I want to bring to your attention President Eric J. Barron's message in response to the tragic death of George Floyd. Please take a few minutes to read and reflect on this message.
I want you to know that as your leader for the Shenango campus, I echo Dr. Barron's words. I am committed to work closely with all members of our campus community to assure that we support an environment of respect and inclusion of diversity. This is not accomplished by one person or a small group of people. It is accomplished by all of us and I ask for your help and support to achieve these goals. Below is an excerpt of Dr. Barron's message.
"We cannot remain silent in the face of this heart-breaking reality. As an institution of higher education, we have an obligation to fight ignorance and intolerance, model inclusivity and embrace the power that diversity represents.
In the face of hatred and bias, we must speak out. We must not accept apathy, indifference or silence, otherwise we allow hatred, prejudice and intolerance to grow.”
Above all, I want our students to know that they are valued and supported at Penn State. We have Counseling Services available virtually throughout the summer, and we have an exceptional staff in our Student Affairs office that may be contacted directly or by text at 814-480-9968. In addition, students are welcomed to Zoom into the Student Affairs virtual office weekdays from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m
I am dedicated to fostering an environment where students can discuss differences and commonalities, and practice respect and community. We will host a Forum on the Local Black Experience on June 12, 2020 from 12:15 p.m. until 2 p.m. Check your Penn State email to register for this private campus event.
If you see something, say something. We have resources to report different types of misconduct, and the ability to report anonymously. If you have been subjected to or witness to an act of bias, intolerance, sexual assault, harassment, hazing, or other act Penn State strongly encourages you to report the incident. If you are unsure of how to report, our Student Affairs office can help you get to the right place.
- Report a bias incident
- Report a behavioral threat
- Report incidents that violate the Student Code of Conduct
- Other reporting resources
I speak for the Penn State Shenango community in our commitment to model inclusivity and embrace the power that diversity represents. We are here to listen to you, we are here to support you, and we are here to work towards positive change.
Dr. Jo Anne Carrick
Campus Director and Chief Academic Officer, Penn State Shenango
