To the KU Medical Center Community:

The past two years have brought about challenges for our nation and our campuses – challenges that are not over yet. As a community, we battled through those times by supporting one another, engaging in courageous conversations, and doing the work to make a difference on our campuses and within our greater communities. This message intends to communicate KU Medical Center’s zero tolerance for any type of hate or ‘ism’ that is directed towards a person, a group, a community, or a population.

KU Medical Center firmly stands against all acts of hatred and all forms of isms that include, but are not limited to racism, sexism, ageism, ableism, classism, colorism and ethnocentrism on our campuses, in our local communities, and across our nation and our globe. We believe in the fair treatment of all human beings regardless of age, education level, race, ethnicity, gender expression and identity, nationality, national origin, creed, accent, physical and mental ability, political and religious stance, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, socioeconomic status, veteran status, profession, and other human differences. We unequivocally and unapologetically condemn the divisive forces of hate, inequities and injustice against all persons, families, and communities. This includes all acts of bias, disrespect, discrimination, verbal and physical abuse, harassment, threats, defacing of property, violence, and the creation of environments of fear against any person, group, community, or population. Together, we say to those who are victims of such acts, “We see you; we hear you; we stand with you.”

The Office for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) is committed to creating a brave space for dialoguing, processing, and raising awareness. The Office will continue to elevate our collective consciousness across our campuses through education, training, and community conversations. The Office also commits to advancing recruitment and retention efforts, mentoring programs, supporting Schools’ antiracism action plans and curricular enhancements, providing an accessible DEI toolkit, partnering with Public Safety on community engagement, and fostering a respectful and inclusive environment where everyone feels like they belong. As individuals, we may not agree on local, national, or international political and social issues or solutions to those issues. However, we can agree that all human beings should have a fair and equitable chance at living their best life according to their beliefs and values. We are all passionate about certain issues and where we stand, and we should be able to express any differences in a respectful and civil manner.

For many of us at KU Medical Center, these challenging times have affected our mental and emotional health. We may need someone to talk to and process what is going on. If you need support, please consider complementary counseling that is available to you. Students and residents can receive free counseling through Counseling and Educational Support Services and employees can receive free counseling through the Employee Assistance Program. As well, if you deem a platform (e.g. Community Conversation) is needed to process current issues, please reach out to the Office for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (kumcdei@kumc.edu), and we will consider your request.

Despite efforts to be inclusive, this message from the Office for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion may have missed a group or ism. If you feel an omission has been made, please contact DEI staff (kumcdei@kumc.edu) so the omission may be corrected and avoided in the future. We invite and welcome everyone to partner with us. Let’s continue the remarkable work we’re doing as a campus community, and let hope, unity, and peace guide our endeavors and move us forward.

Respectfully,

The Office for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion