Published
The tragic and senseless killing of George Floyd and others in the US has left me saddened and angered. And it is clear from the heartfelt reactions of our black staff and students in the Business School and across College that this horrible event and subsequent violence has resonated strongly with them and their communities.
It is a painful reminder to all of us of how racism still pervades our lives and affects communities in Britain and all over the world in both small and very significant ways.
Social transformation is at the core of our mission, and we will only achieve that if we fight racism and discrimination in all their forms. We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion, and stand united as a community. We fully support the #BlackLivesMatter movement.
This is a time to listen and act. While we are making progress in this area, there is still a lot more we need to do to address racial inequality and injustice in the School and across College. Racism should not be a part of our society but many of us are sometimes hesitant to talk about it or unsure how best to help combat it. We can help by seeking a better understanding of racism so that we can be better allies.
I call on all of you to take these events as a catalyst to learn more about how we can work together as a community to tackle these injustices and commit to doing more towards addressing them. President Alice Gast has laid out some College plans in which the Business School will play an active part, and I would welcome your ideas and suggestions as this is something that can only be addressed as a community.
If you are feeling angry, sad, scared or frustrated by these events then I want you to know that we stand by you at this difficult time. If you want to speak to someone, the College Counselling & Mental Health Service is always there to support you. Please do reach out; you can contact them here.
Discrimination takes many forms and there is a responsibility on us as an institution and as individuals to recognise and combat them all. It isn't simple and it isn't quick, but it is something we will do together, because the opposite of discrimination is solidarity.
Thank you for your support.
Francisco Veloso
Dean, Imperial College Business School
