William Behre

The eradication of racism and discrimination from the campuses of all colleges and universities — and in turn, society — is the goal of a new group that includes the president of Slippery Rock University.

The as-yet-unnamed group, which includes SRU President William Behre, was formed after the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police in May.

Behre's group also will include the presidents of California State University Fullerton and Washington State University,

Behre said in their monthly online meetings, the group also discusses the coronavirus pandemic's impact on the 15 campuses and ways to keep students safe.

“I find it great to be able to take an hour every month and ask my colleagues how they are addressing the most important issues of our time,” Behre said Monday.

The group even made a video on discrimination and racism that was inspired by the NFL video “Stronger Together,” in which Black players asserted to league officials their right to protest police brutality.

“It's important for me that we don't just put out a nice video and call it a day,” Behre said. “We quite literally are trying to put our money where our mouth is.”

Behre participated in the New Presidents Academy when he came to lead SRU two years ago in an effort to form networks with other college and university presidents.

The connections he formed at the one-week academy program, which is sponsored by the American Association of Colleges and Universities, have resulted in the formation of a group of 15 presidents of institutes of higher learning to face and address the issue of racism and discrimination.

In addition to hiring a special assistant to the president for diversity and inclusion, increasing financial aid by $1.15 million since 2018, launching an anti-racism and social justice resource page and other measures at SRU, Behre hopes to get a big-name speaker to come to the 15 campuses to talk about the importance of voting.

“That is probably the most important way for our students to engage in issues that are important to them today,” Behre said.

He said as the group continues to meet and collaborate, he expects thought-provoking programming will continue to be devised for students and faculty.

“When people in power say we are going to do something, that is an important first step, but if we end there, it's just symbolism,” Behre said. “We hope the programming we do becomes a resource for our campus. That's my dream.”

He expressed sadness and frustration that minorities continue to struggle in the United States more than 50 years after the Civil Rights Movement.

Behre said white Americans must stand together with minorities to eliminate systemic racism.

“If their allies don't stand up and say things and do things and try to make a meaningful change, I think we'll wait another 50 years,” he said. “Only when all of us stand up and recognize collectively that these terrible things are going on and commit from our position of power, until that occurs, I don't think you'll see any meaningful change.”

Terrence Mitchell, who is Behre's special assistant for diversity and inclusion, is heartened by the new collaboration of college and university presidents and Behre's commitment.

“We are off to a great start toward making a real difference at SRU and I look forward to working with everyone to make things happen,” Mitchell said.