Stephen F. Austin State University

Dear members of the SFA community:

Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day and Emancipation Day, officially became a federal holiday in the U.S. this week. Tomorrow, June 19, will be celebrated as Juneteenth National Independence Day, in which the 156-year-old celebration commemorated the end of slavery in Texas.

On June 19, 1865, Gen. Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, to announce the Civil War had ended and all slaves had been granted freedom.

We must pause on Juneteenth to reflect on how we — individually and collectively— will continue to address barriers to equality that exist across our nation. We must look back at the legacy of Abraham Lincoln to see his words during what also was a tumultuous time. In his writing of the Emancipation Proclamation, he affirmed, “I never, in my life, felt more certain that I was doing right than I do in signing this paper. If my name goes into history, it will be for this act, and my whole soul is in it.” This document would begin a domino effect of change that led to Granger’s landing and ultimately creating the Juneteenth holiday.

As we reflect on the history of the day’s past — the people who owned enslaved people, the people who fought to end slavery, the political climate of the time, and most importantly, the enslaved themselves — we must remember this day is not just a time to celebrate. Instead, this moment of reflection is just one step in a long journey toward building societywide respect for everyone.

At the core of our values is our passion for a diverse and inclusive community where all students, staff and faculty are treated with equity and justice. Our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion is articulated in our diversity and inclusion statement, which states, “At SFA, our commitment to diversity and inclusion is more than words—it is actions. We believe diversity and inclusion are keys to promoting more engaged individuals locally and globally. We at SFA are committed to amplifying a campus culture that nurtures belonging and embraces similarities while celebrating that every Lumberjack will be different. Those differences are valued, acknowledged, and supported purposefully.”

By policy, the Board of Regents approves all vacation days for SFA, and I will recommend to them that we observe the Juneteenth holiday moving forward.

We are proud of the progress we’ve made, but our journey is far from complete. Please join our campus community on Juneteenth as we renew our commitment to change our institution and the world.

Axe ’em,

Scott A. Gordon, President