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Letter from the Editor-in-Chief: In solidarity with the Black community

"We recognize the power of journalism and the privilege we have to be able to use our platform to uplift Black voices and narratives."
"We recognize the power of journalism and the privilege we have to be able to use our platform to uplift Black voices and narratives."

Dear readers:

The Cavalier Daily stands in solidarity with the Black community in the fight against systemic racism and discrimination. As student-journalists, we have an obligation to not only report on the ongoing movements and protests around the country, but to also listen to and support the community we serve. It is our duty as a newspaper to call out injustice in our community when we see it, and we reject the notion that The Cavalier Daily cannot simultaneously do this while reporting the objective truth. As Black communities continue to make their voices heard, we are listening, we are learning and we are committed to amplifying these perspectives in our newspaper — now and always. During this historic time, we recognize the power of journalism and the privilege we have to be able to use our platform to uplift Black voices and narratives.

As one of the very few persons of color elected to serve in this position of leadership in The Cavalier Daily’s 131 years of publication, I am committed to increasing diversity in our newsroom, welcoming students of all backgrounds to our organization and respectfully engaging with our community to better inform our content and share your stories. However, we acknowledge that it is not enough to simply make a statement of support — we need to back that up with action and recognize our shortcomings.

The Cavalier Daily is at its best when it helps students see beyond their own experiences, and we cannot do this work without first diversifying our coverage and staff. As such, we aim to create partnerships with Black and minority student groups on Grounds to help elevate the voices and stories of the many diverse communities around us. I hope you will also consider using The Cavalier Daily’s platform to share your experiences, narratives or reflections with the entire University community. We welcome article submissions regarding recent events, as well as feedback on how we can share more perspectives from the University’s Black and other underrepresented communities.

The Cavalier Daily’s Editorial Board has also compiled a suggested list of resources to help our community better understand and support the Black Lives Matter movement — including recommended readings in African American and African studies and related courses for students to consider. We thank the community activists and student organizations who have already shared many of these materials. 

For now, we join our peers in demanding accountability for police brutality and participating in the ongoing struggle for racial justice and equity. We all have an opportunity to learn, grow and become better — and I hope you will join in Telling the History of Now.

Read the Editorial Board resources article here.

Submit a guest column or letter to the editor by following the instructions here.

Sincerely,

Nik Popli, Editor-in-Chief, President & CEO

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