Bates President Clayton Spencer, VP for Equity and Inclusion Noelle Chaddock, and Bates Multifaith Chaplain Brittany Longsdorf take a moment to reflect and pause as our nation grapples with the recent, yet sadly familiar events, of continuing race-based violence.

“This weekend, as we celebrate the many accomplishments of the Bates Class of 2020, it is important that we acknowledge the relentless race-based violence that we continue to enact as a nation.

These brutal patterns are the work of centuries and decades, and they are deeply embedded in the structures of our society.

One of our most urgent commitments as a college community is to teach our students that it is up to each of us and all of us together to bear witness against the violence of racism, to act for justice, and to affirm our shared humanity.”

— Bates President Clayton Spencer