Message to the Student Body
A Message to the Student Body
June 7, 2020
Dear Students,
On behalf of the Alabama School of Mathematics and Science, our leadership team is emailing you with a statement of support for the Black members of our community as well as our plan of action outlining how we will follow through on our words to you today.
The recent deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor have once again shined a bright spotlight on the injustice and brutality that Black Americans continue to experience. We acknowledge that African Americans in our country and in the ASMS community have been personally affected by racism and oppression. We emphatically denounce racial injustice, hate, prejudice, and violence. We grieve any pain caused by senseless death. We fully support our African American community members.
To our African American community members, we are sorry. We are sorry for your pain and suffering. Your ASMS family loves you and is here for you.
Our leadership team has been in discussions as we take the Black Lives Matter, anti-racist movements, and current events very seriously. Our African American students deserve more than just our words; they deserve to know ASMS is and will be acting on their behalf. It is clear that something has to change, both in society and on our campus. As a commitment to you, we will do everything in our power to guarantee that ASMS values diversity, equity, inclusion, respect, and accountability at higher levels. This is essential because we educate Alabama’s future leaders.
Our team came together last week to develop a plan of action for this summer and the school year ahead, and this is just the start. It is a living document, and we are more than willing to add to it based on the feedback, perspectives, needs, and concerns of our students. Although we are not on campus right now, we want to assure you that we are here for you.
If you are experiencing frustration, fear, or anger, you are not alone. In the discussions we have had with fellow faculty and staff members, one common thread is that we all agree that real, systemic changes cannot come soon enough. It is clear that our nation has a long way to go until all Americans truly feel that there is liberty, justice, and freedom for everyone.
It is time for all of us to listen and learn with empathy as people speak their truths. As your ASMS leadership team, we will aim to listen with open minds and open hearts. Although school is not in session, we encourage our school community to seek resources, education,and training. We hope that our plan of action will help to facilitate such opportunities.
Our African American students matter. Black lives matter. What we do and how we respond in the days, weeks, and years ahead matters. Together, as ASMS Dragons, we have meaningful work to do and changes to make. ASMS is a diverse community of scholars, and we will stand on the side of history that seeks broad empowerment of all of our students so that they can fulfill our mission to improve our community, state, and nation.
You can view our current plan of action.
You can provide feedback and suggestions about the plan here (by e-mailing newsletter@asms.net).
Sincerely,
The ASMS Leadership Team
Dr. John Hoyle, President
Dr. Mitch Frye, Academic Dean
Mr. Ken Robinson, Director of Admissions and Outreach
Dr. Samantha Church, Director of Development
Mrs. Christina Cooley, Director of Finance
Dr. Scarlette Studdard, Director of Human Resources and Operations
Mr. Keidrick Wooten, Director of IT
Mr. Robert Shoemaker, Director of Maintenance
Mrs. Kara Whitney, Director of Student Affairs
Mrs. Allyson McMaken, Assistant Director of Communications and Alumni Outreach
Mrs. Katrina Thompson, Assistant Director of Judicial Affairs