Dear Friends,
The diversity of the Santa Clara Law community is one of its greatest defining strengths. For many years, the students, faculty, staff, administrative team, and alumni have worked hard to build a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive law school. Although we are grateful when we make progress, our work will forever be unfinished.
Our Jesuit, Catholic University and Law School are founded on the belief that we are all made in the image and likeness of God and therefore must treat each other with equal dignity and respect. We hold fast to the enduring spiritual, moral, cultural, social, economic, and educational values of diversity, equity, inclusion, anti-racism, and racial justice.
At Santa Clara Law, therefore, we cannot be neutral in the face of any form of human subjugation. We condemn anti-Black racism, religious intolerance, bigotry, hatred, and violence towards the Asian, Asian American, Latinx, Native, LBGT, or Queer identified members of our human family. We renounce any derision of people who are perceived as outsiders or who express unpopular opinions in civil discourse. We are called to work hard to become a more anti-racist and inclusive community. This shared calling requires intentional, comprehensive, and concrete action steps.
Together, we must, and will, move beyond words and performative gestures. In the days, weeks, and years ahead, we will work together—all of us—to pursue equity and become more anti-racist in our pedagogies, curriculum, co-curricular activities, discourse, programs, organizations, events, governance, hiring, admissions, resources, public safety, external relations, and community engagement.
We know that there will be setbacks along the way and we will certainly make mistakes. But we will learn from our missteps, push each other onward with acts of loving kindness, and steadfastly accompany each other on our unending path to racial justice. I am so grateful to be on this journey with you.
With warm regards and great gratitude,
Michael J. Kaufman
Dean and Professor of Law
Summer 2020 Messages on Racial Justice:
Message from the Interim Dean on racial justice
Message on racial injustice from Santa Clara University President, Kevin F. O’Brien, S.J.
Other Links:
Santa Clara Law School Diversity Plan
History of diversity and inclusion efforts at Santa Clara Law
Equity Justice and Engagement Committee
Diversity and inclusion resources
Imposter syndrome with Honorable Shelyna Brown
Santa Clara University’s Office of Multicultural Learning Center for Social Justice and Public Service
