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June 3, 2020


Dear Liberal Arts Undergraduates,

First and foremost, I hope that you and your loved ones are well—or as well as conditions allow—and that you are staying healthy and safe.

These are very grim times. Not only have we been in the midst of a global pandemic, but we are also now witnessing the long-term consequences of social inequalities as civil unrest continues in the United States and around the world. I suspect that many of you are confused, angry, afraid, sad, and searching for ways to make sense of this difficult moment—and I want you to know that this is okay.

As an historian, I can tell you that we have seen challenging times before. Our resilience in these moments, and our ability to see ourselves in others are what defines who we are and what we stand for as a society and as global citizens. As the dean of your college, I ask you to use this particular moment to commit yourselves as Liberal Arts students to serious study, deep reflection, and thoughtful conversation about how we build a world that reflects our best values, aspirations, and human creativity, and also promotes democratic participation and social justice for everyone.

As this week has unfolded, I have become aware of multiple incidents posted on social media that show Penn State students and alumni engaging in racism and anti-Semitism through their remarks and use of abhorrent symbols. While I do not find these behaviors surprising at a time at which communities around the nation are making visible collective claims to justice, I am disappointed nonetheless. It is my understanding that none of the incidents that have come to my attention involve students or alumni from the College of the Liberal Arts. I am hopeful that our students and alumni will continue to model the core liberal arts values—integrity, respect, responsibility, discovery, excellence, and most importantly community—that everyone should strive for as Penn Staters.

We Are Penn State—and for us, there is nothing that is impossible if we fasten ourselves to these values. Take care of yourselves, be smart, and be well.

Sincerely,
Dean Lang


Clarence Lang
Susan Welch Dean of the College of the Liberal Arts
Professor of African American Studies
The Pennsylvania State University
111 Sparks Building
University Park, PA 16802
AskLiberalArts@psu.edu

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