This page will be updated regularly as new information is available.
Healing Space: Processing Injustices
Every Thursday, 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
The University Student Union invites you to participate in a supportive discussion during Healing Space: Focus on the Recent Killings and Attacks on Latino Males and the Latinx Community: This virtual program will be a welcoming and safe space where you can have curative conversations with other Matadors.
Zoom link: Healing Space: Processing Injustices
Essential Talks
Every Friday, 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
Processing the recent and long history of police brutality and its impact on the Black community. In collaboration with University Counseling Services we will continue to process the killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, Ahmaud Arbery and the many more Black lives who have died at the hands of police officers. Each week will have a different focus and theme that directly impacts the Black community. Interpreters will be provided by request two days in advance.
Zoom link: Essential Talks
CSUN Sociology Faculty Statement on Police Violence and Systemic Racism:
Once again, we find ourselves in an extraordinary moment in which many people are compelled to act in response to a long legacy of systemic and institutionalized oppression in our country. The recent police killing of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, David McAtee, Tony McDade, and many others who are disproportionately from Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) communities, is a symptom of the systemic racism that exists in the United States and globally. These murders are one part of a larger pattern of anti-Blackness, institutional racism, and white supremacy—patterns that we, as sociologists, are trained to critically examine and interrogate. Sociologists are committed to understanding our social world which necessitates using an intersectional lens to illuminate how race, ethnicity, gender, class, sexuality, ability status, and citizenship status influence our lives. This includes shedding light on injustice and speaking out about violence. To that end, we stand in solidarity with Black, Indigenous, and other racialized groups who have been subject to continued state and state-sanctioned violence. We are committed to addressing issues of racial justice through education and will continue to critically engage in these conversations through listening, learning, reflecting, and teaching. We remain in solidarity with the local and global uprisings and with all communities who have resisted, protested, and taken actions to disrupt systemic oppression.
—In Solidarity,
- David Bogumil
- David Boyns
- Lori Campbell
- Moshoula Capous-Desyllas
- Michael Carter
- James Davidson
- Laura Edles
- Monicka Guevara
- Beth Jakubanis
- Briauna Johnson
- Ali-Akbar Mahdi
- Lauren McDonald
- Roya Mavaddat
- Stacy Missari
- Karen Morgaine
- Daniel Olmos
- Ana Prata
- Stephen Scheff
In addition to the solidarity statement endorsed by numerous department faculty, the Sociology Department stands in strong support with the recent American Sociological Association statement regarding systemic racism in the criminal justice system:
The ASA shares in the public outrage over the police killing of George Floyd and numerous other Black and brown people at the hands of racist cops. We wish to acknowledge and condemn the systemic racism in society and the criminal justice system. Indeed, the death of Floyd is but the most recent in a sordid history of violence against Black people in America. Over the centuries, police brutality has played a key role in oppressing African Americans and people of color. Further, as sociologists have documented, police departments are funded through a predatory system that unfairly draws on revenue from communities of color. Institutional racism in all its forms must be condemned in the strongest possible terms. As sociological scholars and citizens, we have a responsibility to study and speak out regarding all forms of racism and injustice.
Message from the Chair
Dear CSUN Sociology Community:
At this time of unprecedented stress and upheaval I would like to acknowledge the anxiety, fear, and outrage that many students, faculty, staff, and community members are experiencing. As we continue to navigate through these uncertain times, most recently brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic which has burdened BIPOC and low-income communities disproportionately, and the tragic deaths at the hands of police, we have a responsibility to speak out about injustice. In addition to important statements of solidarity, it is crucial that we take concrete steps to help our community and to eradicate racism and oppression. To that end, the sociology department will keep you informed about department and university-wide efforts through the department webpage and we welcome input about programming, resources, and information you would like to see developed and/or highlighted.
Karen Morgaine
Professor & Chair
CSUN Sociology