Office of Admissions

The Office of Admissions at the University of Minnesota condemns the recent racist violence against Asian Pacific American (APA) women and the APA community as a whole. This includes the terroristic acts on Tuesday, March 16 in Georgia that have taken eight lives, six of whom were Asian American women. We are horrified and continue to be concerned for the safety of Asian American community members across the country as racist violence towards the community has escalated. We denounce all forms of violence, discrimination, racism and bias including these hateful acts. We join President Gabel in committing to bring our energy, our passion and our care for each other to end this heartbreaking cycle of racially motivated violence and discrimination.

Read additional statements from the Office of the President and the Office for Equity and Diversity regarding recent violence against the APA community.

In addition, George Floyd's murder exposed what many already knew: that there are deep, systemic, and dangerous biases and inequalities in our society that have gone too long unacknowledged and unchecked.

We stand with those calling for sustained and meaningful action and change, including University of Minnesota President Joan Gabel and our university partners at the Office for Equity and Diversity, and pledge to:

1. Listen: Listen to members of Black communities, Indigenous communities, and communities of color who continue to experience the damaging effects of historical trauma, oppression, and systemic racism. Our communities have the knowledge and lived experiences that must be elevated.
2. Learn: Learn about anti-Blackness and its pervasive and harmful impact on Black communities. Learn more about your role in creating change. Dismantling systemic racism cannot happen without an understanding of the history of our University, state, and nation.
3. Support: Support impacted communities. Donate. Volunteer. Create intentional spaces to process anger, sadness, and grief. There are many immediate and long-term needs.
4. Advocate: Make your voice heard. Get involved in efforts to create change within and beyond the University. Systemic change cannot happen without direct action and advocacy.

Source: Office for Equity and Diversity

The Office of Admissions, along with the University community, vows to support our community members who continue to face inequities. We know, however, that words are not enough, and that a commitment to action will not suffice. We must demonstrate that we are taking that action. It will take courage to confront our past mistakes and our personal and institutional biases, to have difficult conversations, and to risk missteps. As an institution of teaching and learning, we are both obligated and well-positioned to do just that.

We have every confidence in this generation of University students to move the world in a way that earlier generations have not. We commit to supporting those working to achieve the goal of a better, fairer, safer society. We hope you'll join us to be a part of this effort.