Promoting a Safe and Inclusive Wake Forest

by Betsy Chapman, Ph.D. ('92, MA '94)

The following message was sent to students, faculty, and staff on August 25.

Dear Wake Forest Students, Faculty and Staff,

Again our residence halls, classrooms, quads, athletic fields, and shared spaces are alive with all the promise and excitement marking the outset of a new term.  As President Hatch so compellingly noted in a message to campus earlier this week, ours is a community that cares deeply about each member.  We want all Wake Forest students, faculty and staff to know that you are valued and belong here.

It is impossible to prepare for this new year without addressing the recent demonstrations and deadly violence in Charlottesville, underscored by recent protests in nearby Durham and Chapel Hill.  Many of you are wondering if what happened in Charlottesville could happen here, in Winston-Salem and/or on our campus.  Some have asked about policies or procedures regarding free speech or the approval of speakers and off-campus visitors. Wake Forest honors differences of opinions, values intellectual and practical discussions and solutions, and is committed to including perspectives from across the broad spectrum of debate.  In this spirit, we share here resources related to campus safety during potentially charged events, speakers, or deliberations.

 

Policies and procedures

  • Our current policy for public gatherings for groups outside our campus community is available here. Because ours is a private institution, requests for demonstrations or potential speakers do not guarantee acceptance. Wake Forest has the right to deny or remove anyone from campus should safety issues or threats arise.
  • The Student Conduct Office promotes a civil community dedicated to the highest standards of honor and ethical conduct, and strives to ensure a positive and safe living and learning environment for all University members. Through fair and efficient due process and in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct,students are held accountable for their actions on campus, within the local community and beyond.
  • Our non-discrimination statement promotes an educational and professional environment where discrimination across a broad range of identities and group affinities is expressly prohibited.

Campus resources

  • Through a network of campus resources and offices, academic and scholarly support, and personal and professional development activities, Wake Forest is committed to providing a safe and inclusive environment to share ideas and perspectives.
  • If you have concerns about an imminent safety threat, contact police immediately. Our Wake Forest Police Department is available 24/7 at 336-758-5911(emergency line) and 336-758-5591 (non-emergency). Call 911 if you are off campus.
  • If you observe troubling behavior that does not pose an imminent threat or are seeking support, a catalogue of resources are available on campus. These include the dean’s office of each Wake Forest school, as well as the Office of the Dean of Students, Office of Diversity and Inclusion, Intercultural Center, Counseling Center, Office of the Chaplain, Student Health Service, LGBTQ Center, Women’s Center, Title IX office and Human Resources.
  • Additionally, the Report Bias website enables members of our community to report biased or otherwise distressing experiences. Even if you’re not sure if what you witnessed or experienced was bias-related, we still want to hear from you.

Upcoming Events

  • Over the 2017-18 academic year, Wake Foresters will explore what it means to be an engaged community member in a U.S. society that is more virtual, diverse, polarized, and global than ever before. We’re calling this yearlong effort “Rethinking Community” and will be sending along more details shortly.
  • This Monday, Aug. 28, all students, faculty and staff are invited to participate in a candlelight vigil as a peaceful demonstration against the bigotry, hate and white supremacy witnessed in Charlottesville earlier this month. The vigil, sponsored by our Chaplain’s Office and Dean of Students, will take place on the Magnolia Quad at 8 p.m.
  • On Sept. 5 & 6, the Humanities Institute and Pro Humanitate Institute (PHI) will co-host a “teach-in,” in which faculty members will select texts, some from the Charlottesville Syllabus, and lead small group discussions.
  • On Sept. 7 at 6:00 p.m., the PHI will host a public panel in Wait Chapel, moderated by Dr. Melissa Harris-Perry, on race, politics, and the South. Following the panel, the PHI will offer student-facilitated small group discussions from 7:30-8:30 p.m.

As we collectively embark on the rich opportunities and inevitable challenges of this new academic year, please take a moment to acknowledge the vital role that you play in shaping Wake Forest. Without the willing engagement of every one of you, our community is unfinished and unfulfilled. Our campus and surrounding communities will thrive thanks to our mutual commitment to learn from, respect, and value each other.

 

Sincerely,

Rogan Kersh, Provost

Carmen Canales, Chief Human Resources Officer

Kami Chavis, Associate Provost for Academic Initiatives

Adam Goldstein, Dean of Students

José A. Villalba, Interim Chief Diversity Officer

Contact

To contact the Office of Family Engagement or Family Communications, please visit our contact page.

 

For mental health assistance: 336-758-CARE (2273) is a service that ensures someone will always be available (i.e., 24/7 M-F, weekends and university holidays) to provide caring and thoughtful consultation services for Wake Forest students in need of mental health assistance or support.