Statement of Support and Commitment – April 11, 2016

California State University, Long Beach
Department of Sociology

Statement of Support and Commitment
April 11, 2016

As sociological scholars, educators, activists and community members, we actively pursue a just world in which all persons can develop to their fullest potential. Given our deep commitment to an inclusive vision and to contesting and dismantling multiple systems of domination, the Department of Sociology is dedicated to preserving a safe and just campus environment for our students and colleagues.

The challenges facing students, staff and faculty of color and other marginalized groups at CSULB today are not new. Over the years the University has repeatedly professed its commitment to diversity. Committees have been convened and studies conducted. Nevertheless, progress has been painfully slow thus contributing to ongoing feelings of marginalization. Given the urgency of the political climate both on and off of our campus, delayed change and lip service are unacceptable.

Our students have taken the lead and the Sociology faculty are prepared to work with them to advocate for meaningful and lasting institutional change. With great courage, they have articulated the pain and frustration that many students have experienced on campus and in their communities. These events reflect deeply-rooted systemic attitudes and practices that will continue to occur in the absence of campus and system-wide change.
We support the rights of our students to organize and challenge the University to create the necessary transformations in policy and practice that safeguard environments for learning, critical thinking, and self-expression. We urge campus leaders to consider decades of sociological analysis and research to inform the necessary conversations and solutions required to address the systemic and interrelated dimensions of inequality. As a department, we are steadfast in our commitment to eradicating injustice and to fostering educational opportunities for all.