Dear [NAME OF YOUR DEPARTMENT/HEAD OF DEPARTMENT or TUTOR]

My name is [YOUR NAME], I’m a [YEAR OF STUDY AND DEGREE TITLE] student at [ UNIVERSITY NAME] and I am writing to you to urge that you take action in the wake of the murders of Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade and George Floyd.

The chain of events that are currently unfolding in the United States are the result of the amalgamation of hundreds of years of brutal and unjust treatment of Black citizens at the hands of the police, and after many centuries of institutionalised racism against Black communities of the US. The anguish and uproar caused by George Floyd’s brutal murder is not only containted in the United States. The discrimination and infringement of human rights experienced by Black Americans is experienced by Black people everywhere. Stephen Lawrence. Trevor Smith and Desmond Ziggy Momeyarara are just three examples of racist incidents that have taken place in the United Kingdom. The pain experienced by Black people around the world must be recognised.

You have the responsibility to your student body not just to educate but also to work in their best interest and this responsibility is particularly important to those students in already disadvantaged and marginalised groups, whose interests are not guaranteed by the wider society. During a time like this especially, it is your responsibility to speak to your Black students directly -  making sure that their pain and anger is recognised, ensuring that their voices are being heard and their needs and concerns are addressed accordingly. And in order to truly stand in support of Black students in this moment, you should be addressing your non-Black members of staff and students to establish that they are well aware of their own individual and collective responsibilities to their Black fellow students and colleagues.

Black students around the world are struggling to cope with the pain and experienced trauma caused by yet another tragedy to their community, and are struggling to set aside their anger to concentrate on anything else, which includes academic work. It is of crucial importance that this is acknowledged and you should be understanding and generous with Black students who request extensions, extra help or extenuating circumstances for any pieces of assessment they are still required to submit. Future reports of racial abuse on campus and any form of discrimination against Black students and students from any other ethnic background should be met with immediate and decisive action. I need you to be vocal about the realities of institutionalised injustices faced by black students at your establishment, and to speak on the responsibilities that you and other non-black students and staff have to the Black community, to support them unconditionally, and denounce anyone that does not. Failing to do this will simply mean failing your students - your Black students.

You have the power to carry out real and significant change. You have the authority to help students during this time of need. You have the influence to create a fairer and much safer academic environment for Black students to feel protected in, and more importantly to be able to thrive in. You have a responsibility to use your position for the good of the students who are not in the position to help themselves on their own. You must send a message to these students and to the world that you are aware of what’s happening, that you recognise what is happening, that you care about what is happening and that you vow to take action.

Please take this into consideration.

Best wishes,

[YOUR NAME]