The statement “Black Lives Matter“ was introduced in 2013, but has risen in use after George Floyd, a Black man, died in Minneapolis while being detained by an officer.
“Black Lives Matter” and other related statements have been written in chalk along many sidewalks along Main Street in New Concord.
This event prompted an outrage around the world with thousands protesting the death of not only Floyd, but additional African Americans who have been unlawfully killed.
Muskingum University, home to students of all races and ethnicities, released a statement on June 1 regarding the events. This statement was signed by several members of Muskingum University’s campus.
This message, located on Muskingum’s web page, stated “Muskingum University is committed to building an inclusive community and to using all of our resources — faculty, staff, students, alumni, and friends of the University— to deepen our understanding of systemic injustice and to take action to end all forms of discrimination, whether based on race, ethnicity, gender identity, religion or otherwise.”
Included in the members that signed this statement was Danyelle Gregory, Director of Diversity, Access, and Inclusion at Muskingum University.
Gregory is originally from Michigan and relocated to Ohio for her position at Muskingum. Gregory has 14 years of experience in higher education. Gregory has a passion with students who are first generation, of low socioeconomic status, and students who may have a learning curve.
Gregory commented on the state of the nation in an interview with Orbit Media on June 16.
Muskingum University Director of Diversity, Access, and Inclusion Danyelle Gregory spoke at the university Juneteenth event. The event was held on June 19 on the Muskingum University campus quad.
“I’m a product of a college access program. …I really have a passion for DNI (Diversity and Inclusion) work. I really have a passion for helping the underserved and the historically underrepresented population navigate through college,” said Gregory.
Gregory said how technology created a different response to the systematic racism that has been highlighted over that past month.
“Systemic discrimination, racism, and institutionalized discrimination and oppression has been going on for decades. This is the first time in history we are seeing a global response. We see other countries protesting in their countries against the racism happening in America. I think it’s really because we now have access to technology and people are capturing things on camera and it’s getting to us within the minute, which is a good thing. If these things weren’t caught on tape, nothing would happen,” said Gregory.
Gregory discussed the protests and rioting happening across the nation.
“I definitely support it. I have protested in the past. As far as the riots and the looting, I don’t support that, and I don’t believe in that. That’s not something I would take part in; however, I understand it. What people fail to understand is that the exact responses that people are having to the looting and rioting is why it’s taking place. Some people are more outraged about a store being burned down than a person’s life being taken for no reason by someone who is supposed protect them. People respond to violence,” said Gregory.
Gregory explained how Muskingum University is doing its part to make the campus more inclusive and how her position is involved in inclusivity.
“Right now, we are really working towards making inclusion a part of our every day. It’s my mission to make diversity and inclusion not an option. We have an inclusive excellence team that consists of senior level administration, myself and a few other people. We are currently working on protocols,” said Gregory.
The university is also strengthening community partnerships not only with New Concord but with the surrounding communities of Cambridge and Zanesville. Gregory believes that the path to inclusivity should include more than just the campus.
“It’s going to be a long journey, but we are building a foundation and I believe we are on the right track,” said Gregory.
Gregory intends to work with student organizations such as the Black Student Union and Sisters of Hue to hold more events and strengthen the voices of people of color.
Despite the 2020 spring semester being cut short and the fall semester not yet started, Gregory is working with the university to create diversity and inclusivity programming.
New Concord Mayor Jennifer Lyle attends the Muskingum Juneteenth ceremony June 19. Lyle spoke at the event.
Muskingum University held a Juneteenth event on the campus quad on June 19. Juneteenth, which is also known as Emancipation Day, is recognized as the day that slavery was officially ended in the U.S. in 1865. This happened nearly two years after President Lincoln passed the Emancipation Proclamation.
Included in the ceremony was the reading of a written piece titled “Are We Really Free?” by Muskingum University student Ragan Savage. Also included in the ceremony was a candle lighting as a reading of names of people who lost their lives to injustice. New Concord Mayor Jennifer Lyle, Muskingum University Provost Nancy Evangelista, and Muskingum University Police Chief Daniel Vincent provided sentiments.
The event ended with closing remarks from Muskingum University President Susan S. Hasseler.
Muskingum University President Susan S. Hasseler spoke at the university Juneteenth event held on the campus quad.
“This has been a challenging time for Muskingum University, for our surrounding community and the entire nation as we are reminded of the reality of the racism and oppression that remains all around us, including here on the campus and in our community,” said Hasseler.
Hasseler gave a powerful and emotional speech to the campus and New Concord community.
“While Muskingum is committed to upholding the value of all human beings, it is absolutely essential in the face of continual incidents of violence towards members of our African American community to clearly say, ‘Black Lives Matter’. I’m going to say it again. Black Lives Matter.”
The event ended with participants being invited to chalk messages on the campus quad.
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- Several participants at the Muskingum University Juneteenth event on June 19 wrote messages on the Muskingum campus quad in chalk.
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- Chalk was provided at the Juneteenth event on Muskingum’s campus. participants could write messages on the sidewalks.
Gregory was pleased with the outcome of the event and hopes that next year’s celebration can be even bigger.
“To have the support of the village, to have the support of the campus community and to have our mayor here, I’m very happy with the turnout,”
Watch Muskingum University’s Juneteenth ceremony on YouTube.
Muskingum University Chapel hosted a special broadcast Thursday, June 18 on WMCO. The service is in response to the unrest in our country and pursuit of racial justice. Listen on our SoundCloud page.
