The grievous attack on the United States Capitol on the sixth of January 2021, has left many Americans searching for a way to heal and reform national politics, and rededicate to our country’s commitment to ensuring equality for all.

Northland College was founded on the principle of justice, a search for truth, and a commitment to civic responsibility and engagement. As part of an institution of higher learning, the faculty remain unequivocal in the repudiation of untruths. We are also resolute in our confidence that a more just society is possible. We accept and reaffirm our civic responsibility to engage in the most pressing matters of the day.

As members of an institution dedicated to the search for truth and justice, we feel compelled to denounce the actions of those involved in the attack of the U.S. Capitol and to use our collective voices to challenge the lies that served to provoke, and later attempt to excuse, the actions of those involved in the attack.

In addition to the attack on the foundations of our democratic republic, the inadequate preparation for possible violence and the delayed, tepid response exposes the systemic racism that continues to lie beneath the surface of our society. White nationalism, conspiracy theories, and racist organizations played an important role in the impetus and direction of the violent insurrection.

As President Solibakke and Administrative Council articulated in an earlier public statement, “The key purpose of education is to shine light in the dark…the work of justice requires that we continue to confront white supremacy and all of its intersecting forms of oppression.”

We the faculty of Northland College stand in solidarity with all those who are voicing their anguish, revulsion, and deep frustrations with the January 6 attack on the capitol that was encouraged by lies, white supremacist ideology, and white nationalism. Therefore, we are devoted to continue teaching how to practice discernment and accountability in civic engagement; to demonstrating the connections between the sciences, social sciences, humanities, and public policy; and to challenging falsehoods by communicating the truth, especially when those falsehoods are used to promote actions that attempt to undermine the foundations of our democracy. Furthermore, we dedicate ourselves to understanding and pursuing progressive social change that leads us toward a more sustainable, just, and prosperous future for all.

The Northland College Faculty Council prepared this statement in response to national events. The views expressed in this statement are their own.