Dear UNT Community,
On May 25, 2020, and in the months since, George Floyd's death has demanded worldwide attention. In recent weeks, our nation has tuned in as the individual responsible for his death stands trial, and soon jurors will begin their deliberations as our UNT community and the world watches.
While we don't know what the final verdict in this trial will be, as we react and reflect on the outcome, I encourage dialogue that focuses on how we can continue building an anti-racist society. This is especially critical as we once again find ourselves in an all-too-familiar place after 20-year-old Daunte Wright was shot and killed during a traffic stop earlier this week.
It is clear that many in our community are hurting. Please remember that we have counseling services available for students, faculty, and staff. Students can reach out to UNT's Counseling and Testing Services at 940-565-2741 or counselingandtestingservices@unt.edu. Faculty and staff can access UNT System's Employee Assistance Program (EAP), which offers free counseling (including same-day sessions if in crisis) to active and retired employees, as well as members of their household. The EAP can be accessed 24-hours-a day, seven-days-a week by calling 1-800-343-3822. To access benefits online, visit https://www.awpnow.com and enter AWP-UNT-384 when prompted for a code. You can learn more about our EAP at: https://hr.untsystem.edu/employee-assistance-program.
At UNT, we are working hard to build a caring community, and we know that our work is far from done. In the coming days and weeks, please remember that each of us must do our part to leave this world a little better than how we found it. We must learn from one another. Value one another. Grow with one another.
No matter your age, we are in a constant state of growth, and I hope we will all continue to evolve our sense of social justice as individuals, and as a community, to create a more equitable future for everyone.
Respectfully,
Neal Smatresk
UNT President