Department of Scandinavian Studies Solidarity and Policy Statement

Submitted by Gregory R Pflaumer on

Department of Scandinavian Studies Solidarity and Policy Statement -- Spring Quarter 2020
June 3, 2020

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Dear Department of Scandinavian Studies Students:

The faculty and graduate students of the Department of Scandinavian Studies stand in solidarity with the Black Student Union, the African Student Association, Students United for Palestinian Equal Rights and Solidarity, and the Black Student Needs Coalition. We condemn violence against Black people in Seattle, Washington state, the United States, and the world. We witness the impacts of such violence and other manifestations of white supremacy. We are committed to the struggle of dismantling both institutional white supremacy and internalized racism.

The above-named groups issued a Call to Action on Monday, June 1, which asks University of Washington administrators, colleges, schools, departments and programs to recognize the disproportionate impacts of COVID19, police violence, and recent struggles for justice on Black communities, and to enact policies and changes to courses to address the impacts.

The Scandinavian Studies Department makes the following statement:

1. We stand in solidarity with the Black Student Union, African Student Association, Students United for Palestinian Equal Rights and Solidarity, and the Black Student Needs Coalition.

2. We condemn violence against Black people in Washington state, the United States, and throughout the world. We acknowledge the terrible impacts of such violence and other forms of systemic racism, and the role of white people in it. We are committed to the struggle of dismantling both institutional white supremacy and internalized racism.

3. Based on our evaluation of student learning in spring quarter 2020, student achievement will result in all students earning passing grades in Scandinavian Studies courses, except for students who have not turned in any work for the quarter.

4. Instructors may opt to cancel further course assignments and allow students to complete department courses based on work done to date, receiving a final grade on that basis and with no penalty.

5. Students may convert their grade to an S for spring quarter 2020 at any time before graduation. S grades for spring quarter 2020 will count toward degree and graduation requirements. There is no limit on S/NS grades for spring quarter 2020.

6. Students may also exercise the “former quarter drop” option with the registrar in order to “convert course grades earned in previous quarters to an RD annotation and have the grade and points removed from their GPA. Until system updates can be made, students should complete the current hardship withdrawal petition process for spring quarter 2020 at the following link: https://registrar.washington.edu/students/hardship-withdrawal-petition-…

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