<div dir="ltr"><span id="gmail-docs-internal-guid-67fe39ef-7fff-82e9-3f30-8800840791a3"><font face="arial, sans-serif"><p style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Dear Campus,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><br></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“</span><span style="background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;color:rgb(24,24,24);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” ~ Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. </span><br></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">As we look forward to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on Monday, January 16, 2023, we remember an individual who dedicated his life to the belief that social change through nonviolent means was not only necessary, but possible. Dr. King promoted equality and tolerance, hope and peace, by demonstrating through his own humble service to others that we are all responsible for creating a safer, kinder, more peaceful world.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Next Monday is an important day to remember Dr. King’s life, and to keep the spirit of his inspirational message alive.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">I am so grateful for our faculty and staff, who have committed their careers to educating our students and supporting their success. I am so proud of our students and alumni who serve our campus and continue to support their communities after they graduate. It is through these efforts, and through important days of remembrance like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, that we can keep Dr. King’s message and his ideals alive despite the barriers and challenges some members of our community face on a daily basis. As a university community we continue to invest in our efforts to be the most inclusive, most equitable campus we can be, knowing that our diversity is a crucial aspect of our identity, existence, and our excellence.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">I strongly encourage all who are available to attend this year’s annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration to be held on January 16, 2023. The event is hosted by the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission, and begins at 1:30 p.m. It will be held in the Newman Center located at 90 Broad Street in Plattsburgh and our Vice President for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Allison Heard, will be the featured speaker. Dr. Dexter Criss and the MLK Singers will perform at the celebration, as will the Plattsburgh High School Select Choir, under the direction of Mr. Bill Verity.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Furthermore, in recognition of the 2023 National Day of Racial Healing, the Office for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and the Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation (TRHT) Center invite everyone to attend a watch party on Tuesday, January 17th, from 1:30-4:30 p.m. This hybrid event will be physically located in the H.U.B. (in the Angell College Center) on the SUNY Plattsburgh Campus, with a </span><a href="https://plattsburgh.zoom.us/j/91467215292?pwd=b0ZxeGMvOFNzdWhqTG9lVWlDcFhkdz09" style="text-decoration-line:none"><span style="background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Zoom option</span></a><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> for those who wish to attend virtually.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The watch party will be divided into three, one-hour sessions. Each session will include a screening of a different episode from the digital series </span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-style:italic;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">#CHANGINGTHENARRATIVE – BUFFALO, </span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">and will be followed by a discussion led by a SUNY Plattsburgh TRHT member. The screening schedule is as follows:</span></p><br><ul style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" role="presentation"><span style="background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">1:30-2:30: </span><span style="background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Watch Part 1</span><a href="https://healourcommunities.org/day-of-racial-healing2/watch/buffalo/" style="text-decoration-line:none"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> </span><span style="background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">https://healourcommunities.org/day-of-racial-healing2/watch/buffalo/</span></a></p></li></ul><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-left:36pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Discussion led by Allison Heard, V.P. of DEI, on the diversity, equity and inclusion challenges and issues faced on our campus and in our North Country communities</span></p><br><ul style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" role="presentation"><span style="background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">2:30-3:30: </span><span style="background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Watch Part 2</span><a href="https://healourcommunities.org/day-of-racial-healing2/watch/buffalo/" style="text-decoration-line:none"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> </span><span style="background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">https://healourcommunities.org/day-of-racial-healing2/watch/buffalo/</span></a></p></li></ul><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-left:36pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Discussion led by Dr. Vincent Carey and Mrs. Jacqueline Madison on the history of systemic racism in the Plattsburgh area and its impact on our present day communities</span></p><br><ul style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" role="presentation"><span style="background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">3:30-4:30: </span><span style="background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Watch Part 3</span><a href="https://healourcommunities.org/day-of-racial-healing2/watch/buffalo/" style="text-decoration-line:none"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> </span><span style="background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">https://healourcommunities.org/day-of-racial-healing2/watch/buffalo/</span></a></p></li></ul><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-left:36pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Discussion led by Professor Bridget Haina on the SUNY Plattsburgh TRHT Center’s mission, progress and plans for the future.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">I would encourage campus community members to join all three sessions - however, participants may come and go as their schedule permits. These events are a true reflection of Dr. Martin Luther King’s legacy, and I appreciate all involved for their many contributions to make this an institution of engagement, connection, and learning.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">As we all work to make diversity, equity and inclusion a campus-wide effort and a critical component of our daily practice, please take a moment to review the first edition of </span><span style="background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><font color="#ff0000"><a href="https://www.plattsburgh.edu/_documents/plattslife/diversity-news-january-2023.pdf">Diversity News</a></font></span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">. This publication will be distributed to campus on a monthly basis during 2023, and will also be archived on the </span><span style="background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><font color="#000000">university</font><font color="#ff0000"> <a href="https://www.plattsburgh.edu/plattslife/diversity/resources.html">website</a>.</font></span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> The goal is to provide ongoing updates about campus and community information and events with the goal of keeping us all engaged and connected throughout the year. </span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Dr. King once said, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?” While we will always have more work to do, we are deeply committed to every aspect of our mission and strategic plan to become more inclusive and equitable. With this in mind, and as we approach Black History Month, we remember these events not simply as one-day or one-time efforts but as consistent and ongoing opportunities to remember, reflect, and re-energize ourselves for the work ahead. </span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Sincerely,</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Alexander Enyedi</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">President</span></p></font></span><br class="gmail-Apple-interchange-newline"><div><br></div><br></div>