On Aug. 9, Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson fatally shot 18-year-old Michael Brown—as witnesses claim, Brown stood with his hands in the air. The cries of protesters climbed to a fever pitch against racially motivated police brutality and excessive force that led to Brown’s death. As members of the Washington University student body, we too are disturbed by this tragedy in the least due to its proximity to campus, but more for what it unveils about the state of the community we share. The main charge of the Diversity Affairs Council is to foster a more inclusive campus environment, but we refuse to stop there.

The complex and intensely personal issues exposed by the death of Brown extend far beyond Brookings Hall and will remain with us as we journey forward from this campus. It is necessary to recognize the roots of racism and socioeconomic inequality to derive a true understanding of the circumstances that culminated in the events of Aug. 9 and similar occurrences that history cites. To avoid doing so would be to ignore the reality of racial profiling and police brutality.

We call for widespread pressure to ensure justice not only for the Ferguson community, but also for the numerous other victims of police violence. We ask the University community to recognize that Michael Brown’s death was not an isolated incident, but the result of a broken system. This system is a product of a fundamental disconnect between the authorities and community members of Ferguson and can be found throughout this country. Good policing only exists when all members of the community, including minority identity groups, can trust the actions and intentions of the police force created to protect them.

The DAC is working on opportunities to not only open up the dialogue regarding this tragedy but also to explore the University’s role in our society’s struggle to rectify socioeconomic disparities and the disease of racism. Whether openly discussed or whispered among friends, racial profiling and bias incidents on this campus are all too frequent and often go unaddressed. We are not exempt from these systemic problems.

Over the past few weeks, the sheer volume of media reports and opinions covering Brown’s death and the protests in Ferguson can cause sensory overload. The continual glut of material leaves room for slant and misinformation. The DAC challenges all students to be wary of bias that inherently pervades media. Seek the truth by vetting the frames of perspective thrown your way. Above all, remain curious and open to the conversation.

We strongly encourage you to reach out to us if you or your student group wants to join the DAC in taking steps forward. Please feel free to contact the DAC Chair, Amee Azad, at [email protected].

In solidarity,

The Diversity Affairs Council Cabinet 2014-2015

Amee Azad, chair – [email protected]

Abhinav Chhabra, co-director of student affairs

Judie Lee, co-director of student affairs

Ismael Fofana, director of administrative affairs

Olivia Pineda, director of public relations

Brianna McCain, director of diversity training

Kelly Hu, director of resources