When Ohio University President Roderick McDavis was a student at OU in the 1960s, he protested with the Civil Rights Movement and against the Vietnam War, according to his blog.
Ohio University President Roderick McDavis published a blog post Friday encouraging students to take part in discussions about race and inequality.
McDavis published the blog as OU students have been protesting grand jury decisions to not indict police officers involved in the killing of unarmed civilians in in Ferguson, Missouri and Staten Island, New York.
“Times have changed but today’s themes are strikingly familiar,” McDavis wrote.
“We need to engage in the difficult dialogue about diversity and inclusion that will ultimately lead to increased awareness.”
After the grand jury decision, OU students — carrying signs that read, “I can’t breathe” and “black lives matter” — have staged walkouts and protests.
McDavis wrote that when he was a student at OU in the 1960s, he protested with the Civil Rights Movement and against the Vietnam War.
McDavis wrote that he applauds OU student’s peaceful demonstrations.
“As we near the end of the semester, I encourage you to check on one another,” McDavis wrote. “When we return for Spring Semester, let’s engage in important conversations and discuss our struggles and concerns. Together, we can identify initiatives to enact and raise cultural competencies and awareness.”
@LucasDaprile
ld311710@ohiou.edu
