• Skip to Content
  • Skip to Main Navigation
  • Skip to Search

IUPUI IUPUI IUPUI

Open Search
  • COVID-19
    • Experts
      • FSPH Experts in the News
    • Updates
    • Contact Tracing
    • Random Sample Testing
    • Resources
      • Student Resources
        • COVID-19 FAQs
      • Parent Resources
      • Clinician Resources
      • Public Health Resources
      • Resources for Everyone
  • About Us
    • Dean's Welcome
    • Discover Public Health
    • Annual Report
    • Magazine
    • Departments
      • Biostatistics
      • Epidemiology
      • Global Health
      • Health Policy & Management
        • Citation Statistics of Researchers
        • Health Administration Newsletters
      • Social & Behavioral Sciences
    • Directory
    • Diversity
    • Employment
      • Staff Awards
    • Contact Us
  • Admissions
    • Join FSPH Viewbook
      • Discover
      • Learn
      • Experience
      • Prepare
    • How to Apply
      • Bachelor's Degrees
      • Undergraduate Certificates
      • Accelerated BSHSM–MHA
      • Accelerated BSPH–MPH in Epidemiology
      • Accelerated BSPH–MPH in Social and Behavioral Sciences
      • Master's Degrees
      • Graduate Certificates
      • Doctoral Degrees
      • Accelerated BSPH–MPH in Global and Environmental Health
      • Accelerated BSPH–MS in Product Stewardship
    • Cost & Finances
    • Visit Us
    • Undergraduate Admission Counseling
  • Academics
    • Advising
    • Undergraduate Degrees & Minors
      • General Education Courses
      • BS in Health Data Science
      • BS in Health Services Management
        • Interview Day Sign Up
        • Internship Interview Day
      • BSPH in Community Health
      • BSPH in Global Health
      • BSPH in Epidemiology
      • Accelerated Degrees
      • Undergraduate Minors
      • Honors
        • Honors Application
    • Master's Degrees
      • Master of Health Administration
      • Master of Public Health
        • MPH in Biostatistics
        • MPH in Global and Environmental Health
        • MPH in Epidemiology
        • MPH in Health Policy & Management
        • MPH in Public Health Informatics
        • MPH in Social & Behavioral Sciences
        • Dual Concentrations
        • MPH Program Competencies
      • Master of Science in Biostatistics
      • Master of Science in Global Health and Sustainable Development
      • Master of Science in Product Stewardship
      • Dual & Joint Degrees
      • Scholars Program
        • Eskenazi Health Scholars | Unique, Transformative, Hands-On Training
        • Health Law Scholars Program
    • Doctoral Degrees & Minors
      • PhD in Biostatistics
      • PhD in Epidemiology
      • PhD in Health Policy Management
      • DrPH in Global Health Leadership
      • Doctoral Minors
    • Certificates
    • Career Development & Internships
      • Schedule a Career Appointment
      • Request a Career Presentation
      • Search for Jobs & Internships
      • For Alumni
      • For Employers
    • Study Abroad
    • Student Organizations
      • Eta Sigma Gamma
      • Undergraduate Student Association
      • MHA Student Government
      • MPH Student Government
      • The Public Health Corps
      • Delta Omega
      • Upsilon Phi Delta
    • Indianapolis & IUPUI Advantage
  • Global
    • Global Academic Programs
    • Global Internships
    • Global Affiliations & Partnerships
    • Study Abroad Programs
  • Research & Centers
    • Indiana Public Health System Review
    • Research
      • Biostatistics
      • Epidemiology
      • Global Health
      • Health Policy & Management
      • Social & Behavioral Sciences
    • Publications
      • Biostatistics
      • Epidemiology
      • Global Health
      • Social & Behavioral Sciences
    • Centers
      • Center for Health Policy
        • Mental Health
        • SEOW Data Portal
      • Center for Public Health Practice
        • Indiana Public Health Conference
        • ECHO
          • Nursing Home COVID-19 ECHO
          • About ECHO
          • Join ECHO
          • Meet the ECHO Team
          • ECHO Participant Resources
          • ECHO Frequently Asked Questions
        • Projects
        • Research and Evaluation
        • IU SERT
        • Drug Take Back Days
        • Insights & Innovations
          • Insights & Innovations Registration
        • LHD Accreditation
      • CHEER
        • Diabetes Impact Project
        • Grassroots Maternal & Child Health
      • Public Health Training Center
        • Resources
        • Training
        • List of Services
        • Staff
    • Grants & Awards
    • Research Proposal Intake Form
  • News & Events
    • Stories
    • News
    • Events
  • Alumni
    • Get Involved
    • Stay Informed
    • Alumni Board
    • Contact Us
    • Alumni Awards Program
  • Giving
    • Donor Impact
    • Giving Opportunities
    • Give a Gift
    • Contact Us
  • Blog
  • Student Portal
    • Onboarding
    • Forms
    • Student Handbooks
    • Class Schedules
    • Job Search Guides
    • Campus Links

Richard M. Fairbanks
School of Public Health

  • Home
  • COVID-19
    • Experts
    • Updates
    • Contact Tracing
    • Random Sample Testing
    • Resources
  • About Us
    • Dean's Welcome
    • Discover Public Health
    • Annual Report
    • Magazine
    • Departments
    • Directory
    • Diversity
    • Employment
    • Contact Us
  • Admissions
    • Join FSPH Viewbook
    • How to Apply
    • Cost & Finances
    • Visit Us
    • Undergraduate Admission Counseling
  • Academics
    • Advising
    • Undergraduate Degrees & Minors
    • Master's Degrees
    • Doctoral Degrees & Minors
    • Certificates
    • Career Development & Internships
    • Study Abroad
    • Student Organizations
    • Indianapolis & IUPUI Advantage
  • Global
    • Global Academic Programs
    • Global Internships
    • Global Affiliations & Partnerships
    • Study Abroad Programs
  • Research & Centers
    • Indiana Public Health System Review
    • Research
    • Publications
    • Centers
    • Grants & Awards
    • Research Proposal Intake Form
  • News & Events
    • Stories
    • News
    • Events
  • Alumni
    • Get Involved
    • Stay Informed
    • Alumni Board
    • Contact Us
    • Alumni Awards Program
  • Giving
    • Donor Impact
    • Giving Opportunities
    • Give a Gift
    • Contact Us
  • Search
  • Blog
  • Student Portal
  • Home
  • News & Events
  • News
  • A Message from Dean Halverson: Our Response to Racism

A Message from Dean Halverson: Our Response to Racism

Monday, June 01, 2020

Dear FSPH Community,

As students, practitioners and researchers of public health and health administration, we believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to live a long and healthy life. Your neighborhood, home or job shouldn’t be hazardous to your health. And neither should the color of your skin.

During these uncertain times, it is more important than ever to stand by our colleagues of color. I am proud of the work our students, faculty and staff do each day towards diversity and inclusion. I cannot stand by silently while our friends, neighbors and colleagues live in fear.

Recently, a student wrote to me and shared: “I have come to the realization that no matter our accolades, degrees, or position in the society, the color of my skin, the color of the skin of my husband, father, uncles, children, my entire family, will always be seen as a threat to my White counterpart and this leaves me heavily grieved.”

This breaks my heart. Our students, faculty and staff of color are human. They have worked hard and deserve to feel that their accomplishments speak for themselves, that their skin color is a celebration of their unique experience and their perspective is one to be respected rather than ignored.

In public health and health administration, we work to break down the barriers created by systemic racism to allow everyone the opportunity for health. Not only do we need to stand by our colleagues, but we need to lead the way in breaking down these barriers.

Our words and actions have power. By not calling out racism, we become complicit in allowing a culture of racism to continue. We must be allies to our colleagues and friends.

Black and brown lives matter. They matter when we aren’t recording video. They matter when we aren’t on social media. And they matter when no one is looking.

Many of you are already acknowledging and fighting back against injustice. I am proud of the work our students, faculty and staff do each day to overcome the seen and unseen forms of oppression that hold us back.

However, there is always more we can do. It can be tough to know where to start, but if you want to demonstrate your commitment to being an ally, there are resources available. 

Educate yourself. We all work and study in academia. We are used to doing our research. Learn what you can and brush up on history. And own up to your mistakes.

Listen. Having white privilege doesn’t mean that your life isn’t difficult. But it does mean that you aren’t targeted because of the color of your skin. Pay attention to what is happening around you and learn how to identify racism. Uplift your colleagues of color without speaking for them and taking away their voice. Make an effort to understand how others’ experiences have been different than your own experience.

Stand up. Build networks and support leaders of color. Call out injustice and discrimination when you see it. Learn and use the 5D’s of bystander intervention.

In public health and health administration, we solve problems each day to create opportunities for others. In the words of Maya Angelou: “Hate, it has caused a lot of problems in this world, but it has not solved one yet.”

Let us continue to dismantle hate and make the world we live in equitable for everyone.

Respectfully,

Paul K. Halverson, DrPH FACHE
Founding Dean

  • Stories
  • News
  • Events

Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health social media channels

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Indiana University

Accessibility | Privacy Notice | Copyright © 2021 The Trustees of Indiana University