Dear Alumna,

We are in a moment of national reckoning about racism and understand that you want to know what SEM is doing to address the issue at the school.

The recent deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd have brought our nation to a tipping point. For many white Americans, racism has been an abstraction or viewed as “an individual moral failing” instead of the ideology, which has fueled and continues to fuel a system of white supremacy and privilege.  However, numerous bystander recordings of the dehumanization and brutalization of black Americans have brought many white Americans face to face with the realities of racism in this country.  People have taken to the streets, understanding now that there is no middle ground when it comes to both conscious and unconscious forms of racism. We are all affected by it, and we are all responsible for dismantling it.

Our predominantly white school faces its own reckoning. Few would disagree that equity, diversity, and inclusion echo SEM’s defining values. Learning in a diverse community about diverse perspectives is part of molding thoughtful, resourceful, and empathic women. But when the school is called upon to live out those values, it too often falls short; direct discourse about racism is avoided, and action has been kept to a minimum. SEM is committed to doing better. We must confront what is uncomfortable for white faculty and students and painful for our students and faculty of color. 

In 2015, as a result of strategic planning work that alumna and trustee Virginia Horvath ‘75 did with our faculty, our board of trustees recommended creating a position to address diversity, inclusion, and equity at SEM. To start the 2017-18 school year, Kanika Durland was appointed the first assistant head of school for academics and equity in SEM’s history.

This week Kanika held an affinity session (a facilitated gathering of people who share a common characteristic) for healing and community for students of color. Wednesday night (June 17) a collection of ally educators (someone that supports a group without belonging to it) offered a webinar for white parents to provide them with tools and resources to help them talk to their daughters about racism. These webinars are part of SEM’s continuing commitment to justice and equity and to the whole well-being of our students and their families.

Our board of trustees has now established a committee on racism, led by trustees Jennifer D. Roberts '92 and vice-chair Kate Bowen Smith ‘92. The committee will be listening to students, faculty, and alumnae and evaluating concrete changes such as:  

1. Establishing an annual retreat for students to understand the historical and contemporaneous ideologies, practices and policies of racism within the United States and globally.  

2. Instituting and clearly communicating a protocol for handling episodic and systemic racism.  

2. Creating affinity groups to ease the burden and feelings of isolation for students of color.  

3. Developing faculty training before students return in the fall of 2020.

Addressing and eradicating racism is urgent, both in the world and at SEM. You will hear from Jennifer and Kate soon. In the meantime, you can contact them at:  alumnae@buffaloseminary.org.

Sincerely,

Helen Marlette
Head of School 

Kanika Durland
Assistant Head of School for Academics and Equity

Monday, June 15, 2020

We are in a moment of national reckoning. The recent deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd have brought our nation to a tipping point. For many white Americans, racism has long been an abstraction, but bystander recordings have brought them face to face with its cruel realities. People have taken to the streets, understanding now that there is no middle ground when it comes to racism. We are all affected by it, and we are all responsible for dismantling it.

Our predominantly white school faces its own reckoning. Few would disagree that equity, diversity, and inclusion echo SEM’s defining values. Learning in a diverse community, about diverse perspectives, is part of molding thoughtful, resourceful, and empathic women. But when the school is called upon to live out those values, it too often falls short; direct talk about racism is avoided and action kept to a minimum. The school is committed to doing better. Our board of trustees has established a commission on racism, led by Trustee Jennifer Roberts '92 and Vice-Chair Kate Bowen Smith ‘92. The committee will be listening to students, faculty, and alumnae and evaluating concrete changes such as affinity groups and protocols for handling diversity conflicts.

Now is the time to have a family discussion about racism and SEM is here to offer help. On Wednesday, June 17, at 7:30 PM, a collection of ally educators (someone that supports a group without belonging to it) will host a 30-minute webinar Talking About Race with Your Daughter: Resources for White Families offering tools and resources to help white families talk about race and racism. Tomorrow, on Tuesday, June 16 at 1 PM, Assistant Head of School for Academics and Equity Kanika Durland will host an affinity session (a facilitated gathering of people who share a common characteristic) for healing and community for students of color.

These webinars are part of SEM’s continuing commitment to justice and equity and to the whole wellbeing of our community of student families.

Sincerely,

Helen Marlette, Head of School 

Kanika Durland, Assistant Head of School for Academics and Equity