Allow me to share a moment of pride in my department

by J J Cohen

The English Department of the George Washington University just published this important statement of affirmation. Credo.

"GW English and Creative Writing affirm that we are absolutely committed to fostering programs that recognize the value of studying all aspects of human experiences. Learning from and alongside student movements across the country that – as signs in Kogan Plaza have recently announced – say no to any form of sexism, racism, xenophobia, homophobia, transphobia, and ableism, our department will continue to be a space for thinking deeply, critically, and historically about the rich diversity of the many cultures that have brought us to the moment we inhabit.  Our department offers courses and programming that centralize immigrant or migrant experiences; African American, Latino/a, Asian American, indigenous lives; and the stories and struggles of Muslim, Jewish, and other religious minorities.  We have been at the forefront of developing courses centered on disabled and LGBTQI lives.  We share our students’ concern about the need to end economic injustice and the devastation of the planet we share, and our work as teachers and scholars will continue to reflect that.  We will continue to think about the struggles that unite us across borders and we will not be impeded from carrying out that vital intellectual work. As a faculty, we believe strongly that the Humanities are needed now more than ever.  Our doors are open for study and critical reflection on all of these issues."