From: Office of Institutional Diversity
Good afternoon,
The OSU community will commemorate Juneteenth this Monday, June 19. In recognition of the holiday, all university locations will be closed.
Juneteenth commemorates the date in 1865 when enslaved Africans in Galveston, Texas learned they were free, nearly three years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. Over time, the holiday has grown to celebrate liberation, community resilience, family and culture within Black and African-American communities.
In 2021, OSU recognized Juneteenth as a paid holiday and, following decades of advocacy, the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act was signed declaring Juneteenth a federal holiday. In 2022, Juneteenth became a holiday in the state of Oregon. The recognition of Juneteenth in Oregon is particularly poignant given the state’s history of exclusionary policies targeting Black communities.
At OSU, Juneteenth is an occasion to recognize and reflect on the incredible contributions of the Black community within the university and beyond:
On Monday, please take time to learn more about Juneteenth, find opportunities for celebration across the state, and consider your own efforts to support Black leaders and communities within OSU and everywhere.
Sincerely, Scott A. Vignos, J.D.
Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer