“If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.” - Desmond Tutu
The University of Pittsburgh Graduate and Professional Student Government Executive Board supports and stands in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement, our Black students and communities of color, and all those affected by injustices within our Nation. The current state of the country has been amplified by the recent murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, David McAtee, Tony McDade, Ahmaud Arbery, and the countless lives that were lost before theirs due to violence and neglect. As an organization that represents all of the graduate and professional students in the University of Pittsburgh, when a part of our community is hurting, we are all hurting.
We acknowledge the pain, anger, frustrations, and uncertainties that have plagued our community, especially the Black community. We recognize the institutional racism, white supremacy, and capitalist systems that have created years of inequities and injustices. We challenge the University of Pittsburgh to stand in support for equity and educate the Pitt community of the injustices and inequalities present in our society. We proclaim Black Lives Matter!
In the midst of a health pandemic that has disproportionately affected both communities of color and of lower socioeconomic status, we also recognize that Black graduate and professional students, in particular, are facing pressure to focus on academics, research, and professional work, as well as trauma and mental & physical exhaustion from the ongoing violence within our country. Unfortunately, these are not new circumstances. As members of an institution within the United States, we must educate ourselves on the historical implications of violence and power struggles faced by Black individuals and work together to make this country a more equitable and just place for all.
We must recognize that Pitt is a predominantly white institution. With a graduate and professional student body of 9,191 students, approximately 53% are White while only 4.5% are Black and 4% are Latinx or Hispanic. We also recognize that our GPSG has a majority white executive board, as many of our leadership organizations do. Now more than ever, it is crucial that the University of Pittsburgh, the GPSG Executive Board, and other communities within the institution listen to the voices of Black graduate and professional students. We must continue to learn how we can best serve as advocates for social and racial justice and for equity, and we must use our organizations’ privilege and position to elevate the concerns of those in our communities who do not have a seat at the table. We call on the University to enact more inclusionary processes, including creating more diverse admission policies and providing the necessary resources to support Black students as they succeed in their graduate and professional education. We further acknowledge the larger systematic issues in higher education that spread beyond the University of Pittsburgh. Not only will we advocate for Black students here at Pitt, but we will also push for larger conversations about necessary change in higher education to be more accepting to Black students and faculty.
The GPSG Executive Board cares deeply for all of our students, especially our Black student community, and remains committed to improving the Pitt experience. We will be providing programming, information, and resources over the coming weeks, and have provided a list of resources to further encourage involvement and education below. We also value your feedback and now, more than ever, encourage your input as to how we can best move forward as a community.
In Solidarity,
Malena Hirsch, 2020-2021 GPSG President
Yashar Aucie, Jazzkia Jones, Amanda Leifson, Deanna Mudry, Morgan Pierce, 2020-2021 GPSG Executive Board