Statement on Racism

Members of Women+ in Physics (W+iP), leaders of Towards a More Inclusive Astronomy (TaMIA), and the following members of the Montana State University Physics Department condemn racism and will hold ourselves and each other accountable for our words and actions.  We recognize the presence of racial discrimination in our society and the importance of our role in eliminating it.  As part of our commitment to create and maintain an inclusive space in the MSU Physics Department:

• we will work to identify and address racial biases in the scientific community, including our own, and act to eliminate racist behaviours and practices present in our department.  Those of us who are members of hiring and student recruitment committees will take steps to implement anti-racist enrollment and hiring practices in our department. 
• we will engage with and accept the feedback of Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) students and staff members, and provide a safe space to voice their concerns.
• we will educate ourselves by advocating for and organizing training and workshops on conflict mediation & bystander intervention.  We specifically encourage participation from the staff and faculty of our department regarding this point.  Institutional change should not come from students alone.
• finally, we acknowledge that many of us can never fully understand the experiences of BIPOC in physics and astronomy.  Given this, we promise to listen to, support, and advocate for our BIPOC colleagues, teachers, students, and their families.  

Signed,