(Up to date as of 08/10/20 at 1:04PM CDT)
May 25, 2020: George Floyd is murdered by Minneapolis policeman, Derek Chauvin
May 31, 2020: Dr. Wendy Rheault's, president of RFUMS, "Message to the RFU Community"
June 10, 2020: Dr. Rheault's email on "Freedom of Expression"
June 11, 2020: Dr. Rheault's email on "Next Steps"
June 12, 2020: Dr. Rheault's email on "Statement of support for Black Lives Matter"
June 12, 2020: Town Hall with Dean Vitale with follow-up email "CHP Meeting Follow Up"
June 16, 2020
12PM: Protest & Press Conference concerning the denial of admission for three African American men and a Latina woman, organized by Creating Health and Medical Pathways for Scholars (CHAMPS). From the CHAMPS' press release: "Their denials of admission were irrespective of their successful completion of the Pre-Matriculation Program (PMP) at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and their contributions to the community including participation in mentoring programs for students interested in health careers and the establishment of an ethics organization on campus. The president Wendy Rheault, PhD and Dean Archana Chatterjee, MD of the Chicago Medical School have refused to meet with CHAMPS Alumni Development to determine a process remediation/resolution or best guidance on how to gain places in the Chicago Medical School (CMS) Class of 2024 for these four proven students. Unfortunately, this is not the first time students of color have experienced unwarranted exclusion. Five years ago, CHAMPS met with the previous medical school leadership and this same issue was resolved along with the production of an articulation agreement (the result of a Task Force)."
7PM: Black Lives Matter Protest at Rosalind Franklin University organized by Nahae Kim, CMS M2.
Chicago Tribune Article that covered both the press conference and protest.
10PM: Letter from CHP Students to Admin for Black Lives Matter sent to President Dr. Wendy Rheault, Provost Dr. Nancy Parsley, Dean Dr. John Vitale, and Rosalind Franklin University School of Medicine and Science Board of Trustees and Administration, originally drafted by 30+ RFUMS student allies. Link to the email sent alongside the Letter can be found here. Specific updates/more information on this open letter and petition can be found at CHP Summary of Demands and Progress (Up to date as of 08/10/20 at 1:04PM CDT)
June 17, 2020
2PM: "Joint Message" email from SNMA and LMSA students, the Diversity Office in Academic Learning Environment, and the administration and Dean at Chicago Medical School.
June 17, 2020: Second Town Hall with Dean Vitale, which included a response to the CHP petition. Students requested write-up of town hall, Dr. John Vitale followed up the following day with the email, "CHP Town Hall Notes from 6/17/20"
June 18, 2020: Finalized individuals of the "President's Task Force for Diversity and Inclusion" sent to faculty, staff, administrators, and students & an update on this Task Force on the University website.
June 19, 2020: Dr. Rheault's email on "Observing Juneteenth"
June 23, 2020: Third Town Hall with Dean Vitale with follow-up email on 06/29/20 "CHP Town Hall Update"
June 30, 2020: Diversity and Inclusion Update from Dr. Rheault
July 1, 2020: Fourth Town Hall with Dean Vitale
July 14, 2020: Diversity and Inclusion Update from Dr. Rheault
July 14, 2020: Dean Dr. John Vitale email to CHP students, "BLM and COVID Update." Addresses movement of several items and explains push back of CHP-led protest to Fall 2020 due to resurgence of COVID-19 cases.
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