155 years ago on June 19, an enslaved people in Texas learned of their freedom from bondage. This years observation of Juneteenth takes place in a moment of deep reckoning of the legacy and the realities of systemic racism and discrimination in our nation and in our communities.

The CEOAS Association of Graduate Students (CAGS) stands in solidarity with the Black community and condemns the innumerable acts of violence, including the senseless murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and many more. These criminal acts highlight the systemic and institutionalized racism prevalent in this nation and our community. We must recognize the truth behind the foundation of Oregon and Corvallis. We support Black Lives Matter and commit to supporting the Black community. CAGS will increase our efforts to educate fellow students, staff, friends, community members and ourselves on racial injustices. CAGS is an organization that acts as a liaison between the students and the CEOAS administration, thus as a coalition we commit to bringing these issues to the forefront of our college. We will use our power and our voices as CAGS members to make sure that our administration and our college are held accountable to create a college-wide climate that is inclusive for everyone. We recognize that our position as graduate students in academia is unique in that we must hold one another to a higher standard to address and combat the institutionalized racism present in academia. We understand that the language we use and that the actions we take are critical in shaping the climate of CEOAS. 

The work to truly create a diverse, equitable, and inclusive academic environment is ongoing, and we want to do our part to ensure that graduate students in CEOAS always feel welcome and safe in our community.