Attack On Campus

While the college never provided details about the incident, students said the victim, a LGBTQ-identifying student at the college, was called a slur and then punched by another student while walking across the campus on Oct. 27.

Boroughs, S.J., Philip

<HCPresident@holycross.edu>

11:10 AM

to

Philip, bcc: Administrators


Dear Members of the Campus Community,

We have many serious challenges facing our campus community today. Too many members of

our community are in pain, do not feel a sense of belonging at Holy Cross, and are asking us to

address these issues. We have heard reports of incidents of bias, hate, disrespect and assault.

These behaviors are unacceptable. I am committed to working with students, faculty and staff to

do the work and commit the resources needed to improve our community.

I believe it is critical to launch two specific initiatives at this time: the creation of a Diversity,

Equity and Inclusion Plan, and the creation of a Sexual Respect and Conduct Plan. Each

planwill include short
- term and long
- term goals, recommendations for action, and measurable

outcomes.


Planning groups will be formed to create these plans, and I am asking both groups to

submit reports and recommendations to the Executive Team by March 31, 2019. We will share

these reports with the campus community and hold a community forum in April to gather

feedback and discuss next steps.
 Let me be clear, these action planning processes are not all that we will be doing on these
issues – there are steps that we will take before these plans are complete and steps we have already

taken. We will provide an update on these steps in January. I am establishing these planning

processes at this time because the needs of the community require this foundational work.

My expectation for the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Plan is that it will address campus climate

as a whole, and also address the unique issues, needs and circumstances of community members

who have historically been on the margins in our society. This plan should include concrete steps

to:


●
Promote and foster an inclusive campus climate;

●
Address concerns related to race and ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity,

national origin and religious identity; and

●
Recruit and retain diverse faculty, staff and students.


With respect to sexual conduct and respect, there are two areas of focus. First, we need to do

more to improve our policies and processes related to Title IX. I am directing members of the

Executive Team to take responsibility for coordinating this effort, incorporating feedback from

community members. It is also imperative that we address our campus culture related to sexual

respect. My expectation for the Sexual Respect and Conduct Plan is

that it will specifically focus on the climate issues related to sexual respect and sexual assault, taking into account the

experiences and needs we have heard from members of our community.

This plan should
include concrete steps to:

​

● Further develop and deliver programming, training and education that promote a

culture of sexual respect, foster a shared understanding of our expectations for all

members of our community, and more effectively prevent sexual misconduct; and

● Ensure that there are sufficient specially trained support services available.

During the course of their work, the groups working on these plans may expand the scope of

these charges in response to the feedback they receive from the community.

If you are interested in working on either of these plans, please complete this form

by December 14. The Executive Team will work with me to establish

the membership of each planning team and name chairs by early -

January. We will communicate the composition of each team to the campus at that time.


These are not easy tasks. I expect that the work of the planning groups will be intense and

difficult, but also essential to the community we wish to create. Both teams will be provided a

thematic summary of the feedback from the ENGAGE Summit survey.
Both teams will also be

provided additional feedback, recommendations and calls for action that have been shared with

the administration through others means. Additionally, the two teams will periodically update

each other on their progress and identify common structures and solutions that can improve the

campus climate.


There is a critical need for addressing and changing campus culture in meaningful ways. These

changes will need to be deliberate, and some of them might require persistence and ongoing

efforts over a period of time. We know this is a beginning. I am confident, however, that together

we will find ways to build the community of respect and inclusion which our mission and values

demand of us. By doing so, we will make our campus and culture better for everyone.


Sincerely,

Philip L. Boroughs, S.J.

President

PHILIP L. BOROUGHS, S.J.

President

hcpresident@holycross.edu

phone:

(508) 793-2525

One College Street

Box PRES

Worcester, Mass. 01610

www.holycross.edu

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