MUSC Leaders Respond to George Floyd National-Local Crisis

A message from MUSC leaders - May 31, 2020

To the MUSC family,

We are appalled by the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis and the horrific circumstances that led to his death. We are also dismayed and saddened at the looting and rioting in the streets of our own city. We fully support the First Amendment; however, as a community we all must equally recognize our responsibility to ensure that those rights are upheld in a non-violent, respectful environment. Random violence is not the answer.

Communities across our nation are publicly and privately grappling with the pain, inhumanity and impact of systemic racism. As a family, MUSC is also struggling and suffering as we try to make sense of all that has happened. We also do not fail to remember that the MUSC family shares community with many members who live in dread that the color of their skin, ethnicity, gender, gender identity and religion make them targets of hate and worse. We must support each other as we move forward. As you deal with the gravity of this situation, please don’t hesitate to reach out and use the many resources available to you, including CAPS (Counseling and Psychiatric Services), Campus and Public Safety, Department of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, BSIT (Behavioral Support Intervention Team), University Human Resources, MUSC Health Employee Relations, Student Affairs in our respective colleges, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Pastoral Care and the National Crime Victims Research & Treatment Center.

While outcries to be heard and calls for justice resound, we assure you that MUSC remains resolutely committed to our values of respect, compassion, collaboration, integrity and innovation. Our institution has not and will not change who we are – a diverse, caring family of professionals who are dedicated to fairness, equity and inclusion of every individual in the rich mosaic of our world.

Yours in service,

David J. Cole, M.D., FACS
President

Patrick J. Cawley, M.D.
CEO, MUSC Health and Vice President for Health Affairs, University

Lisa K. Saladin, PT, Ph.D.
Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost

Lisa P. Montgomery, MHA
Executive Vice President for Finance and Operations