In the midst of the country’s political climate and immediately following President Pershing’s statement on Wednesday referring to the sexual assault that took place on campus earlier this semester, the U’s College of Fine Arts has released their own statement expressing the sentiment that “All Are Welcome Here.”

The statement begins by appealing to artists specifically, listing the attributes that set them apart, such as that they are “dreamers,” “rebels” and even “the catalysts for change.” It acknowledges the courage that is required for artists to be themselves, to create “something from nothing.”

Here is where the statement makes a turn toward its intended purpose: acknowledging the prevalence of exclusionary language and rhetoric, while affirming the importance of staying true to one’s identity–going on to name a few aspects of identity, such as race, ability, sexuality, religion and gender, that particularly need affirmation.

Following this, the phrase “we welcome” is repeated in multiple ways and directed at a variety of people, personalities and viewpoints. This segment ends by saying, “We welcome you.”

The College of Fine Arts then explains itself to be “continually work[ing] to be a safe space,” asking for “critique and collaboration in being better” anywhere they “don’t fully succeed in this realm.”

Ending on a high note, the final sentence reads, “So cue the soundtrack of progress, because we’re going to work to ensure the future we produce and record is one of inclusion and justice.”

For the full statement, access the Fine Arts website here.