RE: Urgent Concerns Regarding Racialized Psychological Harm and Lack of Support from Departmental Leadership

Dear University Administration,
I am writing to bring to your urgent attention the severe racialized psychological harm I have endured as a result of my experiences at this University. The toll that these encounters have taken on my mental, emotional, and academic well-being is profound, and the aftermath of meeting with departmental leadership has only exacerbated this harm, leaving me feeling unheard, unsupported, and devalued within this institution. In the interest of my mental health and well-being as a student I am requesting to withdraw from the Gender and Organizations course due to extenuating circumstances and I am seeking to be added to the Directed Research Course.
As a Black scholar navigating the complex landscape of a predominantly white institution, I have repeatedly been subject to microaggressions, implicit biases, and overt exclusion from the curricula. These experiences are not merely isolated incidents, but rather the manifestation of a larger, deeply embedded culture of systemic racism that permeates both this University and academia at large. These ongoing acts of racial discrimination and neglect have cultivated a hostile and oppressive learning environment, forcing me to constantly navigate spaces that undermine my intellectual contributions and diminish my sense of self-worth.
Despite my efforts to address these issues with departmental leadership, I have been met with indifference, a lack of accountability, and what feels like a deliberate refusal to take meaningful action. When I requested to be switched to Independent Study due to the hostile classroom environment, this request was denied. I am left with no choice but to remain in the course because I can’t afford the emotional toll of extending my time in this oppressive climate. The emotional and psychological distress I have experienced has only been compounded by this inaction. It is disheartening and unacceptable that my well-being has been disregarded, as if the harm I have endured is trivial and unworthy of urgent attention. This academic experience has taken a severe toll on my mental health and I am prepared to provide a letter from a Licensed Psychologist under whose care I’ve been, who specializes in race-related trauma.
I cannot stress enough that the University's failure to respond to the racialized turmoil I have faced has created an unsafe environment for me as a Black student. In a meeting intended to discuss the issues I’ve been facing, one of the department’s leaders opened with the question “What do you think the role of a student and a professor is in a seminar classroom?”-as if I were unfamiliar with seminar-style classes or lacked the capacity to navigate them. The conversation quickly shifted to interrogating my understanding of classroom power dynamics. It became clear that the purpose of the meeting was to reinforce my place as subordinate and inferior.
It was especially disconcerting to be questioned in this way given that I am a lawyer, and much of my academic training has involved the Socratic method-a pedagogy that encourages critical engagement with the material. When students are not permitted to interrogate the content or

challenge the status quo, the department (and University) fails its mission of fostering critical thinking, and we risk insulating future scholars from confronting the full scope of knowledge. My goal is to expand the discipline and truly embody an interdisciplinary approach, but this cannot happen in an environment that stifles inquiry and suppresses critical engagement.
The consequences of this neglect are far-reaching, not only undermining my academic progress but also having a deep impact on my mental health. The University's responsibility to provide a safe, equitable, and inclusive environment for all students has been woefully unmet in my case, and I demand accountability and immediate intervention.
I implore the University to take swift and decisive action to address the ongoing issues I have raised. I’d like to be withdrawn from the course and be granted a Late Add to the Directed Research Course. This is not just about my individual experience but speaks to the broader failure of the institution to confront and dismantle the systemic racism that continues to harm Black students and other marginalized communities within its walls. I provided the department with a copy of the Anti-Racist Vocab Guide to spark critical conversations but real change lies in the hearts of individuals. Without a genuine commitment to growth and accountability, many will remain unwilling to evolve unless expressly required.
I expect to see concrete steps taken to rectify the harm I have experienced, and I urge the University to invest in creating sustainable, long-term solutions that ensure no other student is forced to endure the psychological and emotional turmoil that I have been subjected to.
I look forward to your timely response and hope the University will rise to meet the urgency of this moment with the seriousness and care it requires.

Sincerely,
Akayla Galloway J.D.