A Timeline of LMU's Response to Black Lives Matter: May 25 - June 3, 2020

Thursday, June 4, 2020



A Timeline of LMU's Response to Black Lives Matter: May 25 - June 3, 2020
By Raven Yamamoto

Updated as of June 7, 2020, at 5:47 A.M. (PST)

Agency has created a chronological timeline to document how LMU’s students, faculty, and staff have responded to George Floyd’s death and the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement. 

We have also noted which organizations have made official statements or promoted resources as well based on permanent Instagram posts. Organizations that may or may not have made statements using disappearing Instagram stories are not reflected in these lists. 

This article will be updated as time goes on and as more information is made available.

May 25: George Floyd is killed in police custody in Minneapolis, MN.


May 26- 28: LMU organizations begin making statements of solidarity.
  • Organizations that made official statements or posts: Asian Pacific Student Services, South Asian Student Association, Campus Ministry, LMU Jesuits, Isang Bansa.

May 29: LMU releases its first official statement four days after George Floyd’s death.


  • New LMU organizations to make official statements or posts: Agency, Center for Service and Action, HerCampus.
  • LMU issues its first official statement within the LMU This Week newsletter by Marketing & Communications.
    • 7:01 P.M. (PST). The names of Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery are misspelled, instead written as “Brionna Taylor” and “Ahmed Aubrey,” under a section entitled “Response to Civil Unrest Throughout the Country.”
      In this section, the university outlines other ways in which it has responded beyond the email, noting President Snyder’s tweet and announced two events they would host in the coming days: a prayer service for Pentecost and a virtual forum entitled “Breathing in Solidarity.”
    • 9:30 P.M. (PST). Marketing & Communications issues a second email, correcting the spelling errors, approximately two and a half hours after the first.


  • LMU President Timothy Snyder tweets once about the movement, quoting Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

May 30: Black student organizations respond.

  • New LMU organizations to make statements or posts: Brothers of Consciousness, Black Student Union, and African Student Association release community letters expressing solidarity
  • They are joined by Delta Zeta, Creare Service Organization, Pi Phi, Delta Gamma, Ignatians Service Organization, Marians Service Organization, MEChA.
May 31: Ethnic and Intercultural Services (EIS) furloughed, LMU prays for Pentecost.

  • New LMU organizations to make statements or posts: ASLMU, Sigma Lambda Gamma, Nikkei Student Union, Esperer Service Organization, Alpha Chi Omega, Kappa Alpha Theta, Together as Effective Accomplices, Han Tao, Gryphon Circle Service Organization, Sisters in Solidarity, Grupo de Folklorico, Spanish Club, Nā Kolea, Alpha Kappa Psi. 230 staff members were furloughed indefinitely, including the majority of Ethnic and Intercultural (EIS) Services department.
  • EIS Senior Director Henry Ward, The Learning Community Program Coordinator AnaLexicis Bridewell, Administrative Coordinator of Office of International Students and Scholars Andrea Hood, and Program Director of Muslim Student Life Kienan Taweil were the only EIS staff members who remained.
  • LMU hosts a virtual gathering for Pentecost to “pray for an end to racism that continues to grip our country and world.”

June 1: The community gathers, Office of the President releases an official statement.
  • New LMU organizations to make statements or posts: Communications and Fine Arts, Intercultural Facilitators, Interfraternity Council, Delta Sigma Phi, Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts, Admissions, School of Film and Television, Alpha Phi, Panhellenic, Beta Theta Pi, Sigma Phi Epsilon, Rowing, Delta Upsilon, Sigma Lambda Beta, First to Go, Palen and Elsie, Greek Light, Delta Sigma Pi, Phi Delta Theta, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Alpha Delta Gamma.
  • The Black Student Caucus hosts “LMU Community Healing,” a virtual conference to discuss student action. Over 130 students were in attendance.
  • The Office of the President releases a community letter entitled “Speaking Up and Taking Action.”
  • President Snyder tweets a second time, linking his community letter while expressing “solidarity with our African American students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends.”

June 2: EIS is reinstated, student organizations participate in #BlackoutTuesday.

  • New LMU organizations to make statements or posts by participating in #BlackoutTuesday: Loyola Marymount Official, Women’s Volleyball, Seaver, Baseball, Women’s Soccer, Burns Recreation Center, Spirit Squad, Men’s Basketball, Student Housing, Women’s Basketball, William H. Hannon Library, LMU Bookstore, Gender Sexuality Alliance, Barstool LMU, Lion’s Den, LMU EXP, Chicano Latino Student Services, LMU Alumni, The Well, Student-Athlete Advisory Council, Student-Athlete Services, Society of Women Engineers, Men’s Soccer, Golf, Lion Parents, Men’s Lacrosse, Cross Country and Track, Laband Art Gallery, Muslim Student Life, Christian Life Community, Office of International Students and Scholars, College Democrats, LMU Athletics, The Learning Community,
  • All furloughed staff from EIS were reinstated and the department returned to regular operations.
June 3: LMU engages in dialogue, Brothers of Consciousness raise over $4,500 for Black Lives Matter.
  • New LMU organizations to make official statements or posts: LGBT Student Services, French Club, Dance Marathon, Belles Service Organization, Resilience, Queer Film Club,
  • Brothers of Consciousness (BOC) teamed with 12 other student organizations to raise $4,500 in less than 24 hours for Black Lives Matter.

    Each participating organization chose one BLM cause to donate to and filled out digital bingo cards by collecting a Venmo donation for each square with the help of their followers.

    Their next fundraising goal is $20,000 as they continue the campaign on Instagram.

  • The Office of Intercultural Affairs hosted a virtual forum entitled “Racism and Trauma in the Modern Moment.”
    This event was held at the same time “Breathing in Solidarity” was scheduled to take place, according to Marketing & Communications’ initial announcement. It is assumed to have been renamed sometime after the announcement and before the actual event.

    The event was led by African American Studies professor Dr. Stefan Bradley, graduate student and community organizer Megan Castillo (‘19), psychology professor Dr. Cheryl Grills, and EIS Senior Director Henry Ward.

    Over 570 students, staff and faculty were in attendance.
Organizations that have yet to make official statements or posts (via permanent posts on Instagram):


SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS:
  • Magis Service Organization
  • Agape Service Organization 
  • Crimson Circle Service Organization
  • Sursum Corda Service Organization


GREEK LIFE:
  • LMU Sorority and Fraternity Life
  • Order of Omega
  • United Greek Council
  • Delta Kappa Alpha
  • Lambda Chi Alpha
  • Alpha Sigma Nu
  • Sigma Chi 


ATHLETICS:
  • The Cage
  • Athletes in Action
  • Women’s Tennis
  • Water Polo
  • Softball
  • Ski and Board 
  • Esports
  • Ice Hockey
  • Club Ultimate


UNIVERSITY OFFICIALS:
  • Office of Black Student Services
  • Ethnic and Intercultural Services 
  • School of Education
  • LMU CARES
  • Academic Resource Center
  • Public Safety 
  • College of Business Administration
  • Tower Yearbook
  • Wellness Educators
  • LMU Dining
  • Moods Radio
  • Thomas P. Kelly Art Gallery 
  • National Residence Hall Honorary
  • Office of Research and Creative Arts 
  • El Espejo
  • Loyola Law School
  • M-School
  • The Loft
  • Lean In LMU
  • Study Abroad 
  • Tau Sigma Honor Society
  • Conference and Event Services
  • Residence Hall Association 
  • Program Assistants
  • Honors
  • HR Wellness
  • Mane Entertainment
  • Center for Reconciliation and Justice
  • LMU Student Workers


REGISTERED STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS:

  • Latinx Student Union
  • National Association of Black Journalists
  • Indigenous Student Union
  • Fashion Society
  • Kuumba Beatz
  • Laser Squad Bravo
  • LM-UMatch
  • Student Brewing Club
  • EmpowerHER 
  • Debate Team
  • Auto Club
  • Armenian Student Association
  • Eco Students
  • Student Veterans Organization
  • Young Americans For Freedom 
  • Korean American Student Association
  • Best Buddies
  • RADIX
  • Transcendence

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