Indiana State University Newsroom

Indiana State University’s inaugural Juneteenth Recognition Ceremony will take place at 11 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. on Friday through the videoconferencing platform Zoom.

The event starts with a libation ceremony and dialogues on topics including social justice, equal opportunity and Title IX, followed by remarks from ISU President Deborah Curtis, Mike Licari, Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs; Rana Johnson, Associate Vice President of Inclusive Excellence and Strategic Initiatives; Chris Olsen, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences; Denise Collins, Dean of Graduate and Professional Studies; and student Jalin Coleman, an applied health sciences major. 

The event will also include a presentation on the background of Juneteenth by faculty members Ann Chirhart (History) and Adeyemi Doss (Multidisciplinary Studies), and a moment of silent reflection and self-assessment. Juneteenth, celebrated annually on June 19, commemorates the end of slavery.

This year’s recognition ceremony was organized by a group of faculty and staff from several of ISU’s departments and offices aiming to provide opportunities for cultural engagement and to enhance equity, inclusion, and social justice at Indiana State.

"The Inaugural Juneteenth Recognition Ceremony will strengthen our community, celebrate the freedom of slaves, and distinguish Black history as an essential part of our Sycamore community," Johnson said.

The event is free and members of the public are welcome. 

“There may be a misnomer that the Juneteenth Recognition Ceremony is only for a certain race, ethnicity or group,” Johnson said. “Nothing could be further from the truth.”

“The event was created as an educational and informative tool for ISU administrators, faculty, staff and students (undergraduate, graduate, international, on-line learners),” she said. “Additionally, the event is open to the public: K-12 students, teachers, educational stakeholders, members of the Vigo County community, and members of neighboring cities and states are strongly encouraged to join us.”

“My hope is that this event will be one of many to offer opportunities for cultural engagement, exposure to historical paradigms, and provide an introduction to resources that enable each of us to synthesize information to become critical thinkers, problem solvers and thought leaders in the 21st century.

Details to attend The Inaugural Indiana State University Juneteenth Recognition Ceremony: 

Zoom link: https://indstate-edu.zoom.us/j/99159399650?pwd=cnRRaVRidzNQczE0OTlPOEdBMWJXQT09

Password: 483973

Or iPhone one-tap :US: +13126266799,,99159399650#,,,,0#,,483973# or +16465588656,,99159399650#,,,,0#,,483973#

Or Telephone: Dial (for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):US: +1 312 626 6799 or +1 646 558 8656 or +1 301 715 8592 or +1 346 248 7799 or +1 669 900 9128 or +1 253 215 8782

Webinar ID: 991 5939 9650

Password: 483973

International numbers available: https://indstate-edu.zoom.us/u/abVDqSuNE