From: Thomas McHenry <TMCHENRY@vermontlaw.edu>
Sent: Monday, June 1, 2020 1:55 PM
To: Thomas McHenry <TMCHENRY@vermontlaw.edu>
Subject: Community Message
(bcc: All Students, Faculty, Staff, Adjuncts, Trustees – Alumni separately)
Dear Members of the VLS Community:
Like so many across America, I am deeply upset by the racial injustice illustrated most recently by the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, as well as the continuing incidents of police brutality directed at people of color.
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a disproportionately devastating impact on the health and economic status of our communities of color. It has also confirmed what we already knew -- that deep racial disparities continue to exist in our nation. We stand with our students, faculty, staff and alumni in demanding an end to this injustice. I want to commend our Student Bar Association for its statement to that effect.
I look forward to hearing from all of you about how we can best move ahead: to provide a forum for our community to express concerns, to encourage and galvanize our efforts, and to support those who are suffering most. I am also asking our senior staff and faculty leadership to work with our Diversity Committee and our Student Bar Association to find ways to help our community and to contribute to long-term solutions.
To that end, Swan Support is scheduled at 3:30 tomorrow. Students must complete the acknowledgement survey - https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/TQ95BH5 - before being invited to join the Private Teams Channel.* {This meeting is scheduled for 3:30 PM Tuesday, June 2nd. You may request to join by filling the survey. There are other, confidential resources available to all our VLS Students linked here - it does require your VLS Credentials.}
Also, a panel discussion for the VLS Community will be held this Thursday, June 4th at 6:00 pm on "Embedded Racism in the Law" via Teams (details to follow).
Our educational obligations at Vermont Law School are large ones -- our motto is “Law for the Community and the World.” I hope we can use our current physical distance as a strength, and work to live up to our motto. We will continue to educate our students and community to combat racism and all forms of discrimination. Law is an essential tool to improve our community and our world.
I hope you will stay safe and support one another during these times. If you need emergency support, please reach out to the mental health services offered by the Clara Martin Center below. In the meantime, I want to remind everyone of Vermont Law School's Policy Against Discrimination.
Sincerely – Tom
Thomas McHenry
Dean & President
The Clara Martin Center (5 free
sessions per semester, limit 10 per year): Call 802-728-4466 ext. 468 and tell
the operator that you are a Vermont Law School student)
24 hour Emergency Services: 800-639-6360
National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 800-273-8255
Crisis Text Line: text HOME to 741741
Link for request to join Swan Support: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/TQ95BH5
(Must complete acknowledgement survey above before being added to the private
Teams channel)* {This is part of the Mental Health Teams group, which does offer both private and public spaces}
Thomas McHenry
President and Dean
Vermont Law School
164 Chelsea Street, P.O. Box 96, South Royalton, VT 05068
T: 802-831-1237