At Michigan State University, we strive to be a respectful, inclusive and diverse community, embracing and enriched by our own uniqueness, differences, and varied needs. Throughout the ongoing COVID-19 situation, the wide range of consequences experienced by our community members has been highlighted in many ways, both challenging and revealing.

We have an opportunity to construct a more humane, compassionate and respectful community that truly enacts the principles of valuing equity, diversity and inclusion – not just in words, but in how we respond to the current situation and one another.

Please join us in showing your support for the wellbeing of our entire community by signing the Pledge of Commitment to Community, honoring all community members and their unique needs and strategies at this challenging time.

This statement of commitment to our community recognizes and honors our value of one another, and calls upon each of us to be our best for the good of our community as a whole. It is intended to draw our attention to and acknowledge the fact that we are not alone in creating a caring community and campus environment for work and learning, and that we must honor and respect the diverse needs and health considerations of all for any of us to be healthy. This personal commitment helps to ensure our health and safety and that of our colleagues, families, friends and visitors to campus. It is essential to consider the disparate impacts the pandemic is having on specific demographic groups – racial, ethnic, age, gender, disability/medical conditions, and various family configurations. We must be flexible in difficult times and take care of our community as well as ourselves.

To this end,

I will respectfully consider the disparate impacts the pandemic is having on specific demographic groups – racial, ethnic, age, gender, disability/medical conditions, identities, and various family configurations. I will refrain from judgment when the situations of others differ from mine, or from my opinion. When working with my colleagues, I will be empathetic, flexible, and realize that they might be facing a challenge or unspoken circumstance of which I am not aware. I will endeavor to honor their lives and experiences with respect and dignity, as I hope they will respect mine. Together, we will weather the storm, survive and thrive.

I acknowledge and agree to these principles, and along with my community, commit myself to them.

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Our Progress

So far, 86 individuals have signed the pledge with a goal of 13000 signatures.

All names have been hidden unless signatory typed their name in the public field above.