[Teaching-Faculty] Faculty and the Chauvin trial

Fri Apr 16 12:46:19 UTC 2021

Dear Faculty colleagues,

The Deans and I have been thinking deeply about how to make sure we are
doing our best classroom work in support of students as the Derek Chauvin
trial has been moving forward. At the Racial Violence Solidarity Night
(hosted by Dr. Cromwell and co-facilitated by Denise Simard and Michelle
Bonati) this past Wednesday, among other points shared, students expressed
a hope that their faculty would address racial injustices and acknowledge
in their classrooms the trauma students may be experiencing right now. In
my brief time here, I have already seen that our students have a great deal
of respect for you, their teachers; they look to you, in challenging times,
for guidance and support.

My team has been planning an open session  for Monday, 4/19/21, 4:00-5:30
p.m., to allow faculty peers and academic leadership to plan together for
our post-trial response.  Having said this, we have now heard that the
Chauvin trial defense has rested its case, and there is no predicting how
quickly a verdict may be announced.  We will continue to plan for Monday,
and hope that we can host a meeting that will be useful to you all, but for
now, we wanted to share some preparatory information in support of your
classroom work.

Teri Miller, J.D. and Chief Diversity Officer of our SUNY state system of
higher education, shared these words recently:

On May 25, 2020, an encounter between a white Minneapolis police officer,
Derek Chauvin, and a 46-year-old Black man named George Floyd resulted in
Floyd’s tragic death. Derek Chauvin’s trial, which began on March 8, 2021,
is expected to last several weeks, and profoundly impact the nation. A
significant percentage of students across SUNY are activated around racial
justice and the Black Lives Matter (BLM) Movement (including, but not
limited to students of color). Conversely, there is a sizable group of
conservative students, many of whom are already frustrated with the results
of an election they feel was “stolen,” that are also activated in support
of the police, and in opposition to the BLM movement. With that in mind,
the stark reality is that any verdict (emphasis mine) will likely be
disruptive to day-to-day operations. Campuses must act before the verdict
to ensure that students of color and their allies are being supported and
that conservative students feel equally safe and welcome to voice their
opinions and concerns. In the coming weeks, it is crucial that campus
leaders engage students, faculty and staff broadly in discussions of race
and justice, so that all members of our campus community feel respected and
have an opportunity to be heard.

Teri strongly recommends that faculty members explicitly acknowledge the
trial and the impact it may have on their students.

Further, she shares the following mental health information on the impact
of this trial on student learning as well as resources you may wish to
offer to students who seek your support:

Mental Health Resources

National research shows that the percentage of college students who
indicated that stress had a negative impact on their studies increased
roughly 50% since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic (from 21.9% to 30.5%
of respondents). We need to prepare for the impact that this trial will
inevitably have on students in already difficult circumstances by expanding
awareness of the services available to them through SUNY, as well as
trauma-informed services specific to this trial:

   -

   SUNY has partnered with Thriving Campus to provide every SUNY student
   with access to a network of more than 6,000 licensed mental health service
   providers.
   -

   The Governor launched a statewide partnership with Headspace; a
   meditation and mindfulness app which provides guided meditations for a
   variety of situations free online for all New Yorkers.
   https://www.headspace.com/ny
   -

   Students looking to engage with a trained counselor can find support on
   SUNY's 24/7 Crisis Text Line. To reach out, students should simply text
   Got5U to 741- 741.
   -

   All SUNY students have access to the Middle Earth peer-to-peer
   assistance hotline operated by the University at Albany. Middle Earth is a
   secure student staffed hotline that connects students in need with peer
   counselors who are trained to help. Students do not need to be in crisis to
   use this hotline.

Some additional resources available to help faculty in their own thinking
about this historical moment and how they can best support their students:

NYTimes podcast detailing key facts about the Chauvin trial:

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/29/podcasts/the-daily/george-floyd-derek-chauvin-trial.html

Detail on the charges Derek Chauvin faces:

https://kstp.com/news/explaining-the-charges-in-state-vs-derek-chauvin-trial/6039310/

University of Minnesota suggestions on how to support students “before,
during, and after the trial”:

Supervisors of student employees:

 ● Acknowledge that students may feel distracted and disengaged from their
work in the lead-up to, during, and after the trial

● Directly communicate to student employees if and how you can offer
flexibility

● Provide opportunities for optional virtual and in-person check-ins for
individuals and groups (within health and safety guidelines)

● Consider schedule adjustments and modifications for student employment
during this period as requested Classroom settings

Some information specific to classroom settings:

● Explicitly acknowledge (in writing or verbally) the trial and the impact
it may have on students

● Provide more drop-in office hours for students and state if they can be
used for a general check-in, not just for course-related questions

● Communicate directly if you are able to offer flexibility and what types
of flexibility are available.

Sample language you may consider adapting for communicating with students
or student employees about the trial:

As the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, for his
role in the death of George Floyd, nears its conclusion, I would like to
acknowledge the potential impact this trial may have on [members of this
class / student employees of _______ / you]. It is particularly important
for me to name that I know the upcoming trial will have a disproportionate
impact on Black students and employees. As the trial proceeds and the
community responds, I want you to know that I care about how you are doing.
If you need flexibility with [assignments/work schedules, etc.] please
reach out so that we can work together to find a solution.

Lastly, a set of basic strategies for talking with students about traumatic
events.  While it is drafted for a pre-college audience, some faculty may
find the specific suggestions outlined here helpful in thinking about and
preparing for classroom conversations:
https://education.mn.gov/MDE/dse/safe/bprev/MDE071470

Lastly, and most importantly, please take care of yourselves.  This has
been a draining year for all of us.  At the same time, the deans and I
acknowledge that faculty members of color are uniquely affected by this
trial’s daily coverage in the news media, Duante Wright’s death,
yesterday’s release of the body camera footage of the police officer’s
fatal shooting of 13 year old Adam Toledo, and so many other incidents of
violence and racism across this country.

The weight of all of these events is heavy.  Please let us know if there
are any ways that we can help support your self care and your critical work
with our students in the coming days.  More information on the Monday event
to follow.

ANNE HERZOG,
PhD
(She, Her, Hers)
Provost
Vice President for Academic Affairs
802 Kehoe
101 Broad Street
Plattsburgh, NY 12901
(o) 518-564-5402
plattsburgh.edu <https://www.plattsburgh.edu/>
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