The university leadership finally agreed to revise their policies and provide the structural support we demanded. It has been a long and exhausting process but the change is officially happening. Please stay alert to ensure these promises actually turn into practice on the ground.
July 27, 2020
Final supporters
Dear President Nyre,
On the evening of May 30, 2020, Seton Hall Media Relations published a “Statement Regarding Unrest Across Nation.” This statement, found here, was posted to Seton Hall’s official social media accounts, including Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. As proud alumni of Seton Hall, we are disappointed to see that the University’s statement lacked true substance and self-awareness. Seton Hall is a prominent Catholic higher education institution, with not only a global alumni base, but a substantial presence in its local community. Our university has a responsibility to demonstrate leadership and commitment to the anti-racist work that is so sorely needed at this time. While the statement commendably reaffirms Seton Hall’s faith-based commitment to diversity and inclusion, it does not recognize the communities most targeted and at-risk by name or publicly identify tangible steps to ensure that diversity and inclusion are not only re-evaluated - but prioritized - through the University’s practices and policies.
Anyone who takes the ten minute walk across campus from Bethany Hall to the Aquinas dormitories knows that Seton Hall has a beautifully diverse student body. As alumni, we have come to define our experience and find pride in being a part of a community consisting of students representing a number of races, ethnicities, gender identities, religions, and abilities. It is not enough to pray for justice, peace, safety, and comfort for those who are being impacted by this. The Catholic faith calls us to connect our faith with works. It is both easy and passive to denounce racism, but it takes courage and action to dismantle the systems that cause systemic racism to persist both within the University and beyond its gates in surrounding communities and across the nation. We, as individuals and as a University, have a duty to protect and advocate for Black students, alumni, staff, and faculty.
With this in mind, the University has an obligation to declare, unequivocally, that Black Lives Matter, in solidarity with its students, faculty, staff, and alumni identifying as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). To shy away from making this statement is to be complicit with the systems of oppression that uphold institutionalized racism. As a university that frequently promotes its diversity, now is the time for Seton Hall to establish inclusive practices that truly make BIPOC feel not only at peace on our campus, but secure in the knowledge that our community supports them at all times and in all places.
We call on Seton Hall leadership to meet this moment by supporting Seton Hall’s BIPOC community and the broader movement for social justice through clear language and action. To that end, Seton Hall must:
- Take down the current “Statement Regarding Unrest Across Nation” and replace it with substantiated commitments and actions that align to equity and justice in all procedural and policy-based work
- Acknowledge the injustices the Black community is facing by publicly declaring that Black Lives Matter.
- Publicly commit to actions the school will take to ensure the equity, safety, and justice of all BIPOC students, faculty, and staff.
- Create and share evaluation systems to regularly audit the progress and success of said actions.
Pirates are taught from the first day of orientation to become servant leaders who will make a difference in the world. Seton Hall’s alumni stand ready to serve their University in working to meet these challenges and achieve these goals. Now more than ever, Seton Hall University must hazard zet forward.
Respectfully,
Seton Hall Alumni
Updates
June 4, 2020
Reaching this level of support has been an exhausting but necessary reminder that we are not alone in this frustration. It is draining to keep pushing against a system that refuses to listen but seeing this momentum grow keeps me moving forward.
Reached 100 supporters
June 4, 2020
31 Comments
To profess that you “condemn the sin of racism” while also suppressing the voices of BIPOC is conflicting. It’s a unacceptable. Do better and make change.
Seton Hall has a long standing of brushing racial issues aside and it’s sad that I was a freshman 9 years ago and it hasn’t changed.
I expected more from SHU. As a parent, this fine institution expected my daughter to be an active member, not only in her Seton Hall community, but in her community at large. I wish the President’s comments reflected that committment
We as a SHU community can and MUST do better. I stand with you all to hold our alma matter’s leaders accountable for their words and ensure they create and maintain a space where all BIPOC can exist without fear. Hazard Zet Forward.
And President Nyre, please make your next statement clear about what it’s about. It isn’t necessary to discuss coronavirus yet again. It also isn’t necessary to equivocate and denounce violence generally. Doing so seems to make equivalent a fleeting disease and random acts of looting with the systemic racist oppression of the last 400 years. Now is the time to say the words Black Lives Matter. Now is the time to say the words police brutality. And now is the time to mention what you’re going to do for your students, what you are going to do with your criminal justice program—which produces many police officers—and what you are going to do to fight anti-black racist institutions.
I am extremely disappointed in SHU's response to this historical time. I demand more and as an Alumna I expect there to be a complete action plan on how Seton Hall will become an Anti-Racist college.
Black Lives Matter. Take a stand against the systemic racism that plagues the nation - and exists on Seton Hall's campus among students, employees and staff - and make a verbal and written comment to be the change that those individuals deserve.
Share this petition
Share this petition to help it reach more people.
Your share link
The university leadership finally agreed to revise their policies and provide the structural support we demanded. It has been a long and exhausting process but the change is officially happening. Please stay alert to ensure these promises actually turn into practice on the ground.
July 27, 2020
Final supporters
Dear President Nyre,
On the evening of May 30, 2020, Seton Hall Media Relations published a “Statement Regarding Unrest Across Nation.” This statement, found here, was posted to Seton Hall’s official social media accounts, including Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. As proud alumni of Seton Hall, we are disappointed to see that the University’s statement lacked true substance and self-awareness. Seton Hall is a prominent Catholic higher education institution, with not only a global alumni base, but a substantial presence in its local community. Our university has a responsibility to demonstrate leadership and commitment to the anti-racist work that is so sorely needed at this time. While the statement commendably reaffirms Seton Hall’s faith-based commitment to diversity and inclusion, it does not recognize the communities most targeted and at-risk by name or publicly identify tangible steps to ensure that diversity and inclusion are not only re-evaluated - but prioritized - through the University’s practices and policies.
Anyone who takes the ten minute walk across campus from Bethany Hall to the Aquinas dormitories knows that Seton Hall has a beautifully diverse student body. As alumni, we have come to define our experience and find pride in being a part of a community consisting of students representing a number of races, ethnicities, gender identities, religions, and abilities. It is not enough to pray for justice, peace, safety, and comfort for those who are being impacted by this. The Catholic faith calls us to connect our faith with works. It is both easy and passive to denounce racism, but it takes courage and action to dismantle the systems that cause systemic racism to persist both within the University and beyond its gates in surrounding communities and across the nation. We, as individuals and as a University, have a duty to protect and advocate for Black students, alumni, staff, and faculty.
With this in mind, the University has an obligation to declare, unequivocally, that Black Lives Matter, in solidarity with its students, faculty, staff, and alumni identifying as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). To shy away from making this statement is to be complicit with the systems of oppression that uphold institutionalized racism. As a university that frequently promotes its diversity, now is the time for Seton Hall to establish inclusive practices that truly make BIPOC feel not only at peace on our campus, but secure in the knowledge that our community supports them at all times and in all places.
We call on Seton Hall leadership to meet this moment by supporting Seton Hall’s BIPOC community and the broader movement for social justice through clear language and action. To that end, Seton Hall must:
- Take down the current “Statement Regarding Unrest Across Nation” and replace it with substantiated commitments and actions that align to equity and justice in all procedural and policy-based work
- Acknowledge the injustices the Black community is facing by publicly declaring that Black Lives Matter.
- Publicly commit to actions the school will take to ensure the equity, safety, and justice of all BIPOC students, faculty, and staff.
- Create and share evaluation systems to regularly audit the progress and success of said actions.
Pirates are taught from the first day of orientation to become servant leaders who will make a difference in the world. Seton Hall’s alumni stand ready to serve their University in working to meet these challenges and achieve these goals. Now more than ever, Seton Hall University must hazard zet forward.
Respectfully,
Seton Hall Alumni
Updates
June 4, 2020
Reaching this level of support has been an exhausting but necessary reminder that we are not alone in this frustration. It is draining to keep pushing against a system that refuses to listen but seeing this momentum grow keeps me moving forward.
Reached 100 supporters
June 4, 2020
31 Comments
This mission statement is simply not good enough. Solving the issue of systemic racism goes way beyond praying for the people of this world. Action is needed. What is Seton Hall going to do to make sure the voices of minorities are heard throughout its campus?
To profess that you “condemn the sin of racism” while also suppressing the voices of BIPOC is conflicting. It’s a unacceptable. Do better and make change.
Seton Hall has a long standing of brushing racial issues aside and it’s sad that I was a freshman 9 years ago and it hasn’t changed.
I expected more from SHU. As a parent, this fine institution expected my daughter to be an active member, not only in her Seton Hall community, but in her community at large. I wish the President’s comments reflected that committment
We as a SHU community can and MUST do better. I stand with you all to hold our alma matter’s leaders accountable for their words and ensure they create and maintain a space where all BIPOC can exist without fear. Hazard Zet Forward.
And President Nyre, please make your next statement clear about what it’s about. It isn’t necessary to discuss coronavirus yet again. It also isn’t necessary to equivocate and denounce violence generally. Doing so seems to make equivalent a fleeting disease and random acts of looting with the systemic racist oppression of the last 400 years. Now is the time to say the words Black Lives Matter. Now is the time to say the words police brutality. And now is the time to mention what you’re going to do for your students, what you are going to do with your criminal justice program—which produces many police officers—and what you are going to do to fight anti-black racist institutions.
I am extremely disappointed in SHU's response to this historical time. I demand more and as an Alumna I expect there to be a complete action plan on how Seton Hall will become an Anti-Racist college.
Black Lives Matter. Take a stand against the systemic racism that plagues the nation - and exists on Seton Hall's campus among students, employees and staff - and make a verbal and written comment to be the change that those individuals deserve.
Share this petition
Share this petition to help it reach more people.
Your share link
Petitions like this
Other petitions you might want to support
Scan to share
Anyone who scans this can sign the petition.
This mission statement is simply not good enough. Solving the issue of systemic racism goes way beyond praying for the people of this world. Action is needed. What is Seton Hall going to do to make sure the voices of minorities are heard throughout its campus?