How Does Higher Ed Respond to the Sweeping Calls for Social Change?

by Yves Salomon-Fernandez

Our country is going through a seismic transformation and, at some level, so is the world. We are in the midst of a global pandemic, and are also seeing countries across all of the continents rise up in support of racial justice in the United States. In many ways, it is also awakening consciousness around disparities at home in those foreign countries where mass demonstrations in solidarity with the U.S. have taken place. After months of intentionally avoiding the news to allow myself the space to make informed and rational decisions based on empirical data like the trajectory of the spread of the virus in our state and in our region, and anecdotal data from our students, faculty and staff, I find myself voraciously devouring the news. From Britain’s The Guardian to France’s Le Monde Diplomatique, Mexico’s Reforma and Brazil’s Fohla, it has been fascinating to read varied perspectives on this international phenomenon.