Update: Sacramento-area university releases new statement condemning George Floyd’s killing

California Northstate University released a new statement on Saturday condemning the killing of George Floyd, after generating controversy with a statement earlier in the week that said the university would remain neutral on the protests that have occurred nationally.

“Collectively, members of the CNU students, faculty and administration all condemn the killing of George Floyd, racism, brutality, violence and social injustice,” read the new statement from university President and CEO Dr. Alvin Cheung. “The CNU memo issued earlier this week was intended to recognize the individual rights of our students, faculty and staff to express their conscience and acknowledge that CNU is an academic institution that cherishes its independents for creating a safe and secure space where people can freely pursue academic aspirations.”

“Unfortunately, the memo as written failed to convey our intent,” it stated.

On Wednesday, the Northern California private school best known for its for-profit medical and pharmacy schools in Elk Grove, originally stated that it would enact a policy of neutrality as an institution and focus on serving students.

Cheung told The Sacramento Bee on Friday that the killing of George Floyd was tragic, and is a “manifestation of current lesions the country has in ideology, justice, social values.”

But he said a university-wide statement to that effect would be undemocratic and take a position on everyone’s behalf. He said the memorandum was misunderstood.

“This neutrality policy encumbers and respects the rights of each and everyone’s values, beliefs, thinking and judgment,” he told The Bee. “We don’t take a position. Anyone can take a position on their own. In this case I don’t impose a certain decision up on anybody.”

On Friday, a group of CNU medical students released a statement in response, calling for the university to revoke the memorandum and issue one that is committed to countering racism.

“The College of Medicine student body is appalled, disappointed, and deeply hurt by your response and decision to adopt a Neutrality Policy,” read the statement. “This statement tacitly condones both police brutality and systemic racism faced by Black and Brown communities across America....A position of neutrality is not only unacceptable, but also does not exist. There is no such thing as neutrality in a situation where violence directly infringes upon the livelihoods and safety of Black and underrepresented communities across the nation and at our institution.”

CNU serves more than 1,000 students at both its Rancho Cordova and Elk Grove campuses and offers a Bachelor of Science in health sciences, pharmacy and psychology. Its plans to open a dental school have been slowed by accreditation delays due to COVID-19, according to its website.