We in the Department of Classics join our colleagues in Ethnic Studies and Women and Gender Studies in condemning the murder of George Floyd and other Black Americans. We also endorse the statements of our professional organizations, the  and the , and we affirm our commitment to work with our colleagues and students to confront racism on our campus and in our communities.

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Statement on the part of the faculty, staff and graduate students of the Classics Department:

We, the Department of Classics, add our voices to those raised across campus by the Black Student Alliance, UGGS, the Department of Ethnic Studies, the Department of Theatre and Dance, the School of Education, and others. We echo the immediate need to address a climate on campus that harbors racist thinking and action. We stand with Black students and all students of color who are being put in unsafe environments while also being asked to do the impossible work of defending responses to racism.  We acknowledge this additional burden and pledge to continue efforts to ensure the safety and well-being of all students and combat the ignorance and hate that can feed racist comments and actions.

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The Classics Department endorses the

"The Society for Classical Studies joins the American Classical League in expressing deep concern in response to recent public statements regarding the Paideia Institute. Some of those statements are authored by individuals who have been closely associated with Paideia in various capacities and who have now resigned from the Institute.  Some of the published allegations are more generally about the Institute’s cultural climate, while others concern specific incidents. All the allegations are serious.

Accordingly, the SCS board of directors has approved a temporary hiatus on new funding for Paideia programs, including but not limited to support via the SCS Minority Scholarships, Coffin Fellowships, and Classics Everywhere micro-grants.

The directors of the Society for Classical Studies admire the innovative pedagogy and broadly inclusive mission that marked the foundation of the Paideia Institute. Many directors have heard first-hand testimony about the love of the ancient languages that Paideia programs have inspired and the strong bonds that have formed among students, interns, and volunteers participating in the Institute’s programs in the US and abroad. Further, the SCS board of directors recognizes that many classicists who have worked and volunteered for Paideia have striven to create and sustain innovative programs that are both welcoming and inclusive.

In our view, however, it is incumbent upon all Classics organizations to create environments that are diverse and inclusive across all areas of their programs and operations; further, it is incumbent upon all to combat racism, sexism, and discrimination against LBGTQ+ and other marginalized individuals. The SCS board therefore expects that the board of the Paideia Institute will address the public allegations that have been made and describe in detail measures which the organization has taken, is taking, and will take to address its climate, culture, and handling of human resources issues, expanding upon Jason Pedicone’s email of October 2 to the Paideia community. We realize that addressing these issues thoroughly may take some time. The SCS board will evaluate whether to resume funding when we receive an update from Paideia; this should reach us by April 10, 2020. We look forward to hearing from you.”

We likewise endorse the .

The Classics Department of the University of Colorado Boulder will consider resuming its institutional membership of the Paideia Institute at such time as it judges that the concerns outlined above have been addressed to satisfaction.

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