Tag: Ferguson



Members of the Ferguson Commission, appointed by Gov. Jay Nixon after the fatal shooting of Michael Brown in August 2014 by a Ferguson police officer, shared their work and goals with members of the Wash U. community April 8 in Emerson Auditorium. The event was co-sponsored by Olin and the Gephardt Institute for Public Service. Student Life reports on the event in its April 9, 2015 edition.


Washington University in St. Louis students, faculty and staff are invited to learn more about the work of the Ferguson Commission and to share their perspectives about St. Louis’ challenges at “The Future of Our Region,” a town hall meeting at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 8, at Emerson Auditorium in Knight Hall.

The event will feature four Ferguson Commission members:

  • Rose Windmiller, associate vice chancellor for government and community relations at Washington University;
  • Rich McClure, former president of UniGroup, chair of the St. Louis Regional Board of Teach for America and co-chair of the commission;
  • Felicia Pulliam, JD, development director of Focus St. Louis; and
  • Bethany Johnson-Javois, managing director of the commission and an alum who earned a master’s of social work from the Brown School in 2002.

Windmiller said the panel will offer an overview of the commission’s goals and progress and listen to the experiences and opinions of Washington University faculty, staff and students.

Appointed by Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon, the Ferguson Commission​ is charged with studying a spectrum of issues raised by the August 2014 shooting of teenager Michael Brown in Ferguson and the ensuing protests that gripped the region.

“It’s really designed to be an interactive dialogue,” Windmiller said. “The commission members are very dedicated to making recommendations that are geared toward sustainable, permanent change in the St. Louis region.

ferguson commission“Young people have been an important part of this process from the start,” she said. “I think our students, who come from across the globe, can bring a very unique perspective. They may not be here permanently, but many are committed to seeing this region thrive. And we can’t do that as a region until we come to grips with the difficult issues of race, police-community relations, and very real disparities in education and economic opportunities.”

Mahendra Gupta, PhD, dean of the Olin Business School and the Geraldine J. and Robert L. Virgil Professor of Accounting and Management, will open the event. Amanda Moore McBride, PhD, director of the Gephardt Institute for Public Service, associate dean for social work and the Bettie Bofinger Brown Career Development Associate Professor at the Brown School, will serve as moderator.

“Effective civic and community engagement is predicated on education and dialogue, which leads to understanding,” McBride said. “We have faculty, staff and students who have examined disparities and inequality in the region, and who have ideas about effective ways to address these issues.

“This town hall meeting provides a forum for bringing those possibilities forward,” she said. “We are Washington University in St. Louis. We all have a stake in the outcome.”

The event is hosted by Olin Business School; the Gephardt Institute for Public Service; Student Union; the Graduate Professional Council; and the Center for Diversity and Inclusion.

For more information, contact the Gephardt Institute at gephardtinstitute@wustl.edu or call 314-935-9104.

By Diane Toroian Keaggy, WUSTL Newsroom

Video and image from the WUSTL Library project, Documenting Ferguson




As we wrap up activities of the fall semester, we are continually reminded about the troubling events that took place in our community before the semester began. Again and again, we are reminded of the deep issues of race and inequality that continue to divide our community and communities around our nation.

I believe there is an important role for business leaders and our school to play in the economic revitalization and healing process of our communities. Over the last two months, I have been in discussions with our senior leadership team and leaders in the St. Louis business community to begin to define how Olin can contribute as we push forward.

Chronic disparities in access to education, healthcare, and business development won’t be solved by a single discourse, project, or activity. Leaders of our community need to develop a long-term strategy to share knowledge, create awareness, and identify opportunities that aim to address the inequities that exist in our society. Olin, like Washington University, is committed to being an active force for positive change.

Olin has an opportunity and a responsibility to lead. However, we also must be responsive to local needs and consider carefully what actions and projects will have sustainable and lasting impact. For that reason, we have been in serious discovery conversations with other important stakeholders here at Washington University and in the St. Louis business community. Together, we are working to identify specific projects that will harness our most important asset—the skills, energy, and passion of Olin’s students, faculty, and staff.

I look forward to engaging in discussions with the Olin community on these important issues in the new year. Our goal is to formulate a purposeful response to the needs of communities like Ferguson that can bring about lasting change for the good of all. It is a formidable challenge, but I feel confident that we, at Olin and Washington University, can use our skills and creativity to make a positive impact.

Best wishes for the holidays and a restful semester break.




Wash U’s West Campus in Clayton will be closed Tuesday, Nov. 25, as a precautionary measure in anticipation of the grand jury decision in the case of police officer Darren Wilson. In a letter to the Wash U Community today, Chancellor Mark Wrighton, provides links to information, security questions, FAQs, and the Wash U Voices site. In case of an emergency on campus, information will be posted on the WUSTL website and messages will be sent via text and email. Below are excerpts from the Chancellor’s message:

“We are prepared, as best we can, to respond appropriately to any situation, with a priority on maintaining safety. As a precaution, we are initiating operations centers to more easily coordinate all of our university functions and communications so we can quickly share information with you and other members of our community. We will be very careful not to elevate words or actions beyond what is necessary to protect life, rights and property.

I ask that you be an active participant and encourage you to do the following:

  • Make sure your contact information in HRMS or WebSTAC is correct in case we need to reach you by email and/or text message.
  • Bookmark voices.wustl.edu, where we will be posting helpful information and regular updates at 7 a.m., noon and 4 p.m.
  • In the event of an emergency, important notifications will be posted at emergency.wustl.edu.
  • If you wish to express yourself following the announcement, give some thought to how you can do so safely and thoughtfully.
  • If you need support during what I know is a stressful time, reach out to available resources, your adviser or supervisor, a friend or a family member.

We will be doing what is necessary to ensure your safety and well-being, and to maintain normal operations of the university. At the same time, we are firmly committed to supporting everyone’s right to gather peacefully and to express themselves freely. It is through the sharing of ideas and perspectives that we will become stronger as a university and a region, and we want our community to be engaged in the process. We will share additional information and guidance as it becomes available.

Soon, our focus must turn to addressing the tough, but surmountable issues that have divided the region for so long. It is time to come together. And Washington University will be part of that effort.

I know you join me in hoping for peaceful days ahead. At this time of Thanksgiving, many have much to be grateful for, but far too many in our region are struggling and are frustrated. May the tragedy of Ferguson inspire and motivate us to make life better for all.”




Protests in Ferguson, Mo. following the fatal shooting of Michael Brown by a police officer on Aug. 9, 2014, have taken a toll on local businesses. Marketing professor Joe Goodman comments on consumer behavior in and around communities disrupted by violence and protests in two recent articles: The New York Times, “Ferguson Looks to Holiday Shopping Rush with Unease” and The Washington Post, “Protests in Ferguson are hurting local businesses – just not as much as you may think.”