Juneteenth 2025
To the Campus Community:
As we commemorate Juneteenth, we find ourselves in a moment where long-held national
values are being reexamined and debated. In times like these, it is essential that
we reaffirm our role as a place of learning and reflect deeply on both our institutional
mission and the significance of this day.
The historic road to freedom for enslaved African Americans was neither swift nor
simple. The Emancipation Proclamation was proposed on September 22, 1862 and took
effect on January 1, 1863. The Thirteenth Amendment was proposed in January 1865.
General Lee surrendered at the Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865. Yet it wasn’t until June 1865 that the last enslaved individuals learned they were
free—a delay that, for many, amounted to a lifetime. These delays and injustices are
a powerful reminder of the pace of progress in American history, which has often come
slowly and at great cost.
Since the Civil War, the people of the United States have experienced hard-won victories,
setbacks, and renewed calls for justice. For some, today’s challenges and shifting
public discourse may seem sudden. For others, they reflect issues that have long simmered
just beneath the surface.
At 51³Ô¹Ï, we are steadfast in our commitment to celebrating the
diversity that defines our campus community. We strive to foster inclusive practices
and uphold the belief that equitable opportunity reflects the very best of American
ideals. These principles are woven into the fabric of who we are.
As we honor Juneteenth, we also remember the full richness of our nation's cultures,
races, and religions. We are a country founded and grown by immigrants. The values
inherent in our principles of fairness, of what is right and just, define us. They
guide us. And they must be at the heart of our celebration today.
Happy Juneteenth.
Robert S. Prezant, PhD
President
Professor of Biology
