Taking a Stance: University Responses to Racialized Violence in Times of Polarization

This conceptual article explores the practice of higher education institution (HEI) leaders making public statements in response to racialized violence, outlining the origin, proliferation, and effect of the practice. Specifically, this article considers when HEI leaders choose to make a statement and when they choose to remain silent in the face of polarization. Even if such statements only have a rhetorical impact, I argue that taking a public stance against racialized violence is a moral obligation of HEI leaders while also acknowledging the associated personal and institutional risks. Finally, drawing on research, I create space to imagine innovative approaches to addressing racialized violence for HEIs, both preemptively and in reaction to specific incidents.