Diversity and Inclusion




ACSLV Joint Statement on the
Conviction of Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd

April 20, 2021

Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin has been convicted of the murder of George Floyd by a jury in Minnesota.

Among the members of the Associated Colleges, we have witnessed our friends, colleagues and students experience, once again, throughout this trial not only the trauma of George Floyd’s murder, but also the murder and mistreatment of so many other Black Americans — adding to their own personal, daily trauma. The testimony of the trial witnesses as they helplessly watched George Floyd beg Officer Chauvin for his life is a testament to the trauma of systemic racism and the way that Black lives are devalued.

For some, the high profile of this particular case has been a sign of change. But, less than a year later, we are still witnessing shocking killings that demand we do more. In the last month, the killing of 20-year-old Daunte Wright in Minneapolis and 13-year-old Adam Toledo in Chicago underscore that we must continue to demand and support change in our law enforcement and justice systems.  We must work towards a society that embraces diversity, equity and inclusion.   

The verdict for conviction of Chauvin on the charges of murder and manslaughter is a small step toward justice and dismantling systemic racism.

We clearly have a long, long way to go.  

The Associated Colleges of St. Lawrence Valley invites all members of the North Country to take part in reflection and action in order to support anti-racism and truly equal justice for all. Please make time to join us for ongoing critical discussions about the impacts — subtle and obvious — of racism on the wellbeing of our communities. We must do better. 

The Presidents and Chief Diversity Officers of the 
Associated Colleges of the St. Lawrence Valley

For more help and resources to meet this challenging moment please visit:

At St. Lawrence University:

At Clarkson University:

  • Student Health and Counseling Center: (315) 268-6633, 1300 Educational Resource Ctr
  • 24-hour Counseling Service [Accessible through Campus Safety]: (315) 268-6666
  • Chief Inclusion Office: (315) 268-3785, diversity@clarkson.edu, 110 Student Union
  • Dean of Students Office: (315) 268-6620, 1003G Price Hall
  • All available by Zoom as well

At SUNY Canton:

At SUNY Potsdam:

ACSLV Statement on Recent Shootings in Atlanta

March 19, 2021

We condemn racism.  Each of us is compelled to take personal responsibility to shift the dynamics, especially during a rise in acts of violence and bias incidents.  Together, we must lead. 

Chartered by the New York State Board of Regents in 1970, the Associated Colleges of the St. Lawrence Valley is an independent consortium whose mission is to expand the number and variety of regional educational opportunities for students, faculty and the community and to innovate through joint action.  

We have made a commitment to promoting diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging across our North Country community to promote a safe and welcoming community for all people from the diverse backgrounds that we collectively represent.

While our campuses share a robust calendar of cultural, networking, and co-curricular programming across our institutions every year to support this commitment, national events and emerging trends compel us to come together for further joint attention and action. 

We condemn racism. We cannot ignore national events in the last year that show a rise in acts of violence and bias incidents throughout the United States that have impacted our Black, Indigenous, and non-Black People of Color.  This past week’s shootings in Atlanta underscore a rise in acts targeting Asian, Asian-American, and Pacific Islander (AAAPI) identity.  

We recognize that when these events occur anywhere in the United States, they have an impact on our community here and in the world where our graduates will lead in the future.  We must be part of the solution.   We must take personal responsibility to shift the dynamics and accountability in our community to end racism.  We must be the example of global leaders who act with conscience and create an environment where no one stands passively by when members of our community are being harmed and harassed.  Join, listen, and learn in the dialogues and workshops on our respective campuses that are led by our Offices of Diversity & Inclusion and the numerous clubs and organizations that have accepted this mantle to make a difference.  

If you have experienced or have seen bias or harassment on-campus or in the community, please know you can report it to your institution.  Options for reporting are listed below.  You are cherished by your university family members,and we are here for you. If you need to talk with someone, you can contact university counseling and chaplain services, information for which can be found below.  

Together, we must lead.  

The Presidents and Chief Diversity Officers of the 
Associated Colleges of the St. Lawrence Valley

 For help and resources:

At St. Lawrence University:

At Clarkson University:

  • Student Health and Counseling Center:  315/268-6633, 1300 Educational Resource Ctr
  • 24-hour Counseling Service [Accessible through Campus Safety]: 316/268-6666
  • Chief Inclusion Office:315-268-3785, diversity@clarkson.edu, 110 Student Union
  • Dean of Students Office:  315/268-6620, 1003G Price Hall
  • All available by Zoom as well

At SUNY Canton:

At SUNY Potsdam:

At Paul Smith’s College:

ACSLV Statement on Recent Shootings

August 27, 2020

The opening of the academic year is normally a happy and exciting time for everyone as we reunite and reconnect with friends, faculty members, and colleagues. Today, however, we write with sadness and frustration over yet more shootings of Black men in recent weeks: Jacob Blake, shot in Kenosha, Wisconsin in front of his three small children; Trayford Pellerin, shot outside a convenience store in Lafayette, Louisiana; Julian Edward Roosevelt, shot during a routine traffic stop in Screven County, Georgia.  Please know that each of the Associated Colleges of the St. Lawrence Valley – St. Lawrence University, Clarkson University, SUNY Canton, and SUNY Potsdam – support the Black members of our community and are here for you.

We mourn the tragic murders of Pellerin and Roosevelt, and pray for Blake’s recovery. As a community, we know that we have much work to do to change the systems that result in the tragic assaults and murders of our brothers and sisters. We have begun to do this work, through community forums, programs, trainings and workshops, open dialogue with student leaders and organizations, and through Diversity & Inclusion Strategic Action Plans. We are committed to making a difference, together.

We look ahead to the fall semester intent on furthering our work – not just on our own individual campuses – but in collaboration between the Associated Colleges of the St. Lawrence Valley and with our North Country communities.  We have been in dialogue this summer with local officials and law enforcement leadership, and the semester ahead will feature additional forums with campus constituents.  Several events are in the planning, including Black Solidarity Day and antiracism trainings.  We are also already beginning discussions on spring programs, including the annual Associated Colleges’ Diversity Equity & Inclusion Conference and events centered on Racial Justice.  All community members are invited to participate in this critical work throughout the year.

For now, please know that you are cherished by your university family members, and that we are here for you. If you need to talk with someone, resources for each campus can be found below.

With our sincere concern,

The Presidents and Chief Diversity Officers of the Associated Colleges of the St. Lawrence Valley

For help and resources:

At St. Lawrence University:

At Clarkson University:

  • Student Health and Counseling Center:  315/268-6633, 1300 Educational Resource Ctr
  • 24-hour Counseling Service [Accessible through Campus Safety]: 316/268-6666
  • Chief Inclusion Office:315-268-3785, diversity@clarkson.edu, 110 Student Union
  • Dean of Students Office:  315/268-6620, 1003G Price Hall
  • All available by Zoom as well

At SUNY Canton:

At SUNY Potsdam:

The Associated Colleges have been engaging in a wide array of activities and programming to create inclusive communities on their campuses and in their host communities in St. Lawrence County.  Get a sense of these activities here.

July 31, 2020

The leadership of the Towns and Villages of Canton and Potsdam have stepped up to officially and publicly recognize that Black Lives Matter in our communities. As the Presidents of the Associated Colleges of the St. Lawrence Valley – Clarkson University, St. Lawrence University, SUNY Canton, and SUNY Potsdam – we support and affirm this recognition. We are committed to building campuses and communities that allow Black people and other People of Color to thrive.

We want to share with you some of the collaborations that have formed in the North Country to promote the safety and well-being of all our students, employees and community members. The Associated Colleges are working with many community partners, including municipalities, law enforcement agencies, the Chambers of Commerce, and local businesses, to actively combat systemic racism and racial discrimination in our communities.

Members of our collective campus communities have been leaders in the peaceful Black Lives Matter demonstrations and in other social justice movements, such as the North Country Poor People’s Campaign, here in St. Lawrence County. Thousands of local residents—including municipal leaders and law enforcement officers marching in solidarity—have taken part in peaceful demonstrations to protest injustice. We are proud of our faculty, staff, alumni and especially our students—many of whom are active in their home communities as well—for engaging one another in civil civic discourse as we confront systemic racism locally and nationally.

Just as we are all members of our campus communities, we are likewise members of the Canton and Potsdam communities.  The Town Councils and Village Boards of Trustees of Canton and Potsdam share these values and have affirmed them through the unanimous adoption of Resolutions stating unequivocally that Black Lives Matter.

These Resolutions, now a part of the municipal records, speak to the systemic and disproportionate discrimination against Black people in our nation.  They recognize that People of Color experience incidents of individual and systemic racism in the North Country.  They express a shared commitment to Equal Justice under the Law, and to making our communities welcoming, inclusive, and safe for their citizens, particularly People of Color and other minority groups.  They note the peaceful protests and marches of thousands of local residents in Potsdam and Canton, protesting the deaths of George Floyd, Treyanna Summerville, Breonna Taylor, and others, and supporting Black Lives Matter marches and protests in which local law enforcement and municipal and campus leadership took part.

We encourage you to read these Resolutions here.

The Town and Village Boards of Canton and Potsdam have said that it should:

“Be…resolved, that the … Board condemns all acts of racism and discrimination against People of Color and affirms that Black lives do matter; and 

Be it further resolved, that the … Board recognizes that it is the responsibility of all elected and appointed officials, municipal staff, and law enforcement personnel, to commit to making the [Town and Village] a welcoming, inclusive, and safe community in which people of all races, ethnicities and gender identities can thrive.”

The leadership of the Towns and Villages of Canton and Potsdam have set aside politics to affirm the value of Black lives.  We commend them for it and appreciate their leadership and their commitment to working with us and other partners to create equitable, inclusive, and welcoming communities.

Signed:

Anthony Collins
President
Clarkson University

Zvi Szafran
President
SUNY Canton

Philip T. Neisser
Officer in Charge
SUNY Potsdam

William Fox
President
St. Lawrence University

June 10, 2020

The Associated Colleges of the St. Lawrence Valley stand united in their support of Black People – and all people – of our nation.

Each of the Associated Colleges presidents made statements in response to the killing of George Floyd and the movement for equality that followed.

Their statements can be found here:

Presidents of the Associated Colleges of the St. Lawrence Valley write open letter to the community:

January 25, 2019

As the presidents of the Associated Colleges of the St. Lawrence Valley, we share a commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and social justice in our world. Clarkson University, St. Lawrence University, SUNY Canton and SUNY Potsdam have unique histories, missions and strengths but we all share a dedication to embracing the diversity found among our students, employees, their families, alumni, friends, allies, guests to our campus, and members of the surrounding communities. Our campuses are communities where all are welcomed and valued.

This goes to the core of each of our institutions’ values, as reflected in our adopted statements on diversity and inclusion.* While they reflect the individual characters of our institutions, the statements clearly express a shared recognition that respecting and valuing the diversity of our community members is essential to achieving our educational missions. By respecting and engaging our group and social differences (in race, ethnicity, nationality, culture, sexual orientation, abilities, socioeconomic status, religion, gender, gender identity and expression, age, and other social identities) and our individual differences (in personalities, learning styles, and life experiences), we build a more robust, inclusive learning and working environment that fosters critical thought, creativity, discovery, innovation, and the pursuit of academic excellence.

As institutions of education, we have often had to forge the path towards inclusion through our values and policies without the benefit of law or government support. This history serves us well. Our commitment to respecting and embracing the diversity on our campuses applies unequivocally to our transgender, intersex, and nonbinary community members. Similarly we will continue to embrace the international members of our community, endorse the benefit to our community of immigrant populations, and nurture the racial and ethnic diversity of our communities.

We will continue to forge the path of inclusion to advance the greater public good.

Signed:

Anthony Collins
President
Clarkson University

Zvi Szafran
President
SUNY Canton

Philip T. Neisser
Officer in Charge
SUNY Potsdam

William Fox
President
St. Lawrence University