A Message on the Death of George Floyd from Dean Paul Caron

In a message to the community on Monday evening, Dean Paul L. Caron wrote:

I am deeply saddened and outraged by the ongoing acts of racial injustice and senseless violence we are witnessing in our city and throughout the nation. We are all created in God's image and called to do God's work in this world by loving one another. As the university's Statement on Diversity affirms: "Pepperdine is a Christian University fully committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Our faith cherishes the sacred dignity of every human being."

The Caruso School of Law embraces our responsibility to address systemic injustices in our society. Our mission is to provide our students with the tools they need to become future leaders who will effect positive change in the world. We are especially concerned for our Black students at this time. We know you are hurting and trying to make sense of the images and messages you are hearing. Please know that this community is here to support you not only in word, but in deed.

To that end, during this coming academic year, we will be scheduling programs addressing head on issues of racial inequality and bias that continue to plague our country. We will begin this Wednesday, June 3, with an Open Conversation to afford current students, staff, and faculty a safe space to freely discuss recent events.

Listening to each other will be the first step. We have also begun planning trainings and events to take place throughout the academic year and beyond, focusing on implicit bias, diversity, equity in education, race relations, and global justice, as well as other activities that will bring us together. Through these programs, we will leverage our strongest asset—our community—to learn from each other, care for each other, and build the kind of mutual respect and understanding we need in this moment. We will keep you apprised of each of this year's initiatives as we roll them out.

President Gash challenged us this weekend to live out Micah 6:8, "What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God." The Caruso School of Law's initiatives will provide opportunities this year for us to come together as a community and do our part to bring about the justice we all seek in a spirit of loving kindness and humility.

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."
- Martin Luther King, Jr.