SALT LAKE CITY — The University of Utah has announced a new George Floyd Memorial Fund.
According to a statement:
"In establishing the fund, Ruth Watkins is accepting a challenge issued by Scott Hagan, president of North Central University in Minneapolis, who spoke during a memorial service for Floyd on June 4. Hagan asked every college and university in America to establish a memorial scholarship in memory of Floyd, who was killed on May 25, 2020, while being detained by Minneapolis police officers. Floyd’s death has resulted in nationwide, ongoing protests, including in Salt Lake City.”
President Watkins said in a statement:
“While we have made some positive progress on our campus in recent years, we have not done enough—and that is especially important when it comes to supporting our black students, staff and faculty.”
The fund will go towards helping the Black Student Union, the Black Graduate Student Association and the U’s chapter of the National Society for Black Engineers among other things.
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“I love the fact that each year you have aspiring people…that age group that new freshman that comes in each year and they bring new perspective to the table” Meligha Garfield, Director of the Black Cultural Center told FOX13 when asked about fostering new leaders on campus.
Above everything else Garfield says that actions need to be taken right now more than ever to help students grow on campus.
“Our actions should be speaking louder than our words and I think that’s the key," he said.
