Letter from former UCM interns addressed to board of directors

Former interns of the United Campus Ministry sent this Letter to the Editor in response to the termination of former Director Lacey Rogers in 2021. It has been lightly edited for grammar and style.

Please note that these views and opinions do not reflect those of The New Political.

An open letter to the Board of Directors of United Campus Ministry,

I share the concern of many in the community about the breakdown in communication between the board and Lacey Rogers, which led to her termination a year ago. There is a legitimate concern in the Athens community that the vision and leadership UCM demonstrated in hiring a Black woman to lead the organization was shattered, and we are left with a void. There was no transparency as to why Lacey was terminated, prompting speculation and increasing the damage done to her and UCM. Although her termination occurred on March 19, 2021, the board did not communicate with UCM's members until Sept. 21, 2021. An excerpt from that email letter concerning the board's plan is below:

"…the Board of Directors, individually and collectively, are committed to further examining systemic racism and associated biases and attitudes in our lives, in society, and at UCM." 

I appreciate UCM's stated commitment to examining bias and improving the organization. There is a glaring omission, however. There is no mention of regret or apology to Lacey for the harm done to her. Also, six months have passed since that letter, and there has been no word (as far as I know) of any progress on their intended actions. 

The mission of UCM is to engage the Ohio University and Athens communities in spiritual growth, work for social justice, and community service guided by socially progressive and interfaith values.

As you know, the impact is more important than intent. Or, as the old expression says, "actions speak louder than words." I think I can speak for many in our community when I say we long to see UCM become the social justice leader it once was. Given what I know about Lacey's tenure there and her termination, along with the silence from the board and the apparent lack of progress in moving forward, I am deeply concerned. There also is no information on the website or Facebook page regarding any programming other than the Thursday and Saturday meals. How is UCM currently fulfilling its mission?

Your September letter included an invitation to email UCM if the recipient was interested in "being part of a re-envisioning listening session, ecumenical and interfaith discussions, social justice discussions…" Your mission, as stated above, calls on you to reach out to the community. After a long six months of silence, I encourage you to reach out in a more active way and let us work together to clarify how our shared values of inclusion, acceptance, care and support, honesty, humility and courage to combat society's oppressive structures can direct UCM to become the vibrant hub it has been in the past. I don't think this is possible without directly addressing the harm that has occurred to Lacey and her community of concerned supporters.

Susan Righi

New Marshfield, OH