(The following message was sent to the RMC Community from President Robert R. Lindgren on 6/19/20)

Dear Randolph-Macon College Community,

On this evening of Juneteenth, the annual commemoration of the end of slavery, I want to take this opportunity to pause and reflect on these past few weeks.  During this unprecedented time of global pandemic, people around the United States, and indeed the world, have protested the systemic racism, inequality, and discrimination against Black Americans and other people of color that has been so prevalent in our Nation’s history. 

We currently see daily protests and demonstrations in the heart of Richmond – just over 15 miles from our campus.  People are reckoning with the Nation’s past, grappling with centuries old injustices – and the symbols and structures that represent them – and forging paths toward a more just society.

The College’s Mission Statement guides everything we do – in our classrooms, our residence halls, our athletic fields and courts, and everywhere across our campus.  As you know, it calls upon us to prepare our students, in both mind and character, to seize opportunities and make the very most of themselves. 

In the past few weeks, we have heard from many of you – students, alumni, and others – who have related painful circumstances and events where RMC could have done much better, done much more, and where we have failed to live up to our Mission as a college and a community.  You have shared experiences of explicit and implicit racism, discrimination, and deep injustice on our campus.  Some of these experiences describe specific incidents, others reflect structural bias within our college community.  All are unacceptable.

We take these accounts seriously.  And today, I write to you to say unequivocally that that we are listening.  As President, I personally commit to you that we will continue to listen with humility and thoughtfulness and take action. 

Earlier this week, we engaged the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities (VCIC) to help the College listen, learn, and act to address racism and inequity on campus thoughtfully and effectively.

In the coming weeks, we expect VCIC, on behalf of the College, will actively solicit the perspectives and experiences of members of the RMC community through a climate survey and focus groups facilitated by VCIC experts, as well as through an anonymous form on our RMC Equity, Opportunity and Respect webpage. In consultation with members of the RMC community, we will develop an action plan with a clear timeline and measurable goals.

While these steps are underway, we on campus are auditing our hiring policies and practices, identifying institutional structures in need of revision, and reviewing anti-racist educational opportunities for the community.  And we know these are just the first steps.

In his inspirational commencement address on our stage four years ago, our distinguished first African American graduate, HAP Payne ’68 shared the following quote: “The pendulum of change does not swing naturally. Someone has to push it.”   Those words could not be more relevant today, and we thank those who are pushing it.

Change – real, fundamental, necessary change – is so often avoided because it is difficult.  It requires hard examination, to see what needs doing, and having the courage to do tough work. 

In closing, I pledge to you that we are committed. And we take on this work not only for our current community of students, faculty and staff, but for future generations.

Sincerely,

Bob Lindgren

Robert R. Lindgren
President
Randolph-Macon College
Ashland, Virginia