Memorandum of Understanding- Williams College, Town of Williamstown

Conversation sessions for the Williams community 

Day Date Time Group Facilitators Zoom Link
Thursday 3/25 12:00-1:00 PM Students Aseel Abulhab, Austin Huang ’21 https://williams.zoom.us/j/96741711301
Friday 3/26 9:00-10:00 AM Students Aseel Abulhab, Twink Williams Burns https://williams.zoom.us/j/98688437267
Thursday 4/1 3:00-4:00 PM Students Bilal Ansari, Mohammed Memfis ’21 https://williams.zoom.us/j/94609155306
Friday 4/2 9:00-10:00 AM Students Aseel Abulhab, Bilal Ansari, Twink Williams Burns https://williams.zoom.us/j/99613128259
Monday 3/22 4:00-5:00 PM Staff Shinko Kagaya, Akhir Stewart https://williams.zoom.us/j/97501868719
Wednesday 3/24 4:00-5:00 PM Staff Jamie Art, Shinko Kagaya https://williams.zoom.us/j/91657122689
Monday 3/29 4:00-5:00 PM Staff Shinko Kagaya, Akhir Stewart https://williams.zoom.us/j/93420514145
Wednesday 3/31 4:00-5:00 PM Staff Jamie Art, Shinko Kagaya https://williams.zoom.us/j/95017832976
Wednesday 3/24 12:00-1:00 PM Faculty Christopher Goh, Gretchen Long https://williams.zoom.us/j/93661337285
Thursday 3/25 3:00-4:00 PM Faculty Kelsey Jones, Vanessa Oeien ’22 https://williams.zoom.us/j/94205002009
Thursday 4/1 3:00-4:00 PM Faculty Kelsey Jones, Vanessa Oeien ’22 https://williams.zoom.us/j/99433416970

Message to Williams community- March 2, 2021

Dear Williams community, 

We hope this message finds you well, taking good care, and starting the spring semester healthy and strong. We all faced a great deal, individually and collectively, last year: a global health crisis and the ongoing pandemic of racism and racial injustice across the country. We continue to be reminded, too, that Williamtown is not immune to problems including harmful bias and discrimination. We want to describe in this message an important step we are taking to contribute to reshaping local policing and key aspects of community life for the better. Continue reading…

  • A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is a document that outlines the terms of an agreement between two or more parties. Although it is not usually legally binding, it does outline expectations that the parties have mutually agreed to.

    Having a document that contains guiding principles and values agreed upon by the parties, and details operations that are consistent with articulated principles and values can be a powerful tool in our community (standing as a reminder of what the parties agreed to, setting forth expectations, detailing ways of operating, helping to ensure accountability).

  • Phase 1

    • Convene the MOU working group and discuss questions and information to share with the Williams community and the larger community about this process (e.g. what an MOU is, and what it means in terms of accountability)
    • Engage Williamstown leadership regarding the development of an MOU
    • Develop a website containing information on the process, a portal for gathering input and recommendations, and listing opportunities for engagement
    • Host a series of conversations for campus constituent groups to share their thoughts, highlight their experiences, and contribute to the MOU

    Phase 2

    • Host conversations with the broader College and the Williamstown community to encourage sharing of thoughts and experiences
    • Share proposed principles and values for this MOU that were identified in phase 1 with the broader College and Williamstown community. Obtain feedback and make adjustments
    • Engage Williamstown officials and leaders regarding MOU content

    Phase 3

    • Share draft of MOU
    • Obtain feedback on draft MOU and make adjustments

    • The College has always had a relationship with Williamstown - its officials and leadership in schools and law enforcement and local businesses.  Over the years, although many of the relationships have been mutually beneficial, there are several instances in which members of the college community have had negative experiences in Williamstown.  These negative experiences have been with local law enforcement, in schools, and broadly in the town community.  On the heels of a recent wave of racial violence in the country and allegations about racial and gender discrimination and bias within the Williamstown Police Department, we sought to move forward with an MOU with the town to address broader racial and ethnic discrimination that has been prevalent over the years.
    • With regard to the Williamstown Police Department, allegations made public about racial and gender discrimination were at the fore of conversations between and among town leadership and the Diversity, Inclusion, Racial Equity (DIRE) Committee, and throughout Berkshire County.

  • Please use these forms to share your thoughts, experiences, and questions. These forms are anonymous and you may provide your name and/or contact information only if you wish to do so. Questions can also be directed to diversity@williams.edu or you may contact any of the working group members. 

    Feedback form for Williams community

    MOUWorking Group Members

    Aseel Abulhab ‘15, Assistant Director for Intergroup Relations and Inclusive Programming, The Davis Center, Institutional Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
    Bilal Ansari, Assistant Vice President for Campus Engagement, Institutional Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
    Jamie Art ‘93, General Counsel
    David Boyer, Director of Campus Safety & Security
    Twink Williams Burns ‘06, Strategic Adviser for Admission and Financial Aid Community Engagement
    Jennifer Ceolinski, Executive Assistant to the Vice President, Institutional Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
    Christopher Goh, Professor of Chemistry; Faculty Fellow of The Davis Center and Institutional Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
    Leticia S. E. Haynes ‘99, Vice President for Institutional Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
    Austin Huang, Student, class of '21
    Kelsey Jones ‘08, Distinguished Visiting Professor of Education
    Shinko Kagaya, Professor of Japanese
    Gretchen Long, Professor of History
    Mohammed Memfis, Student, class of '21
    Ngonidzashe Munemo, Interim Vice President for Institutional Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; Professor of Political Science; Chair of Global Studies
    Vaness Oeien, Student, class of '22
    Akhir Stewart ‘17, John A. Lowe III '73 Special Collections Postbaccalaureate Fellow

Resources

Williamstown in the News

Town news from The Williams Record

Examples of MOU’s
Some MOUs between school systems and local law enforcement agencies have been developed in partnership with communities/leveraging community input

The Massachusetts Model MOU for Schools and Police Departments 

Model Memorandum of Understanding for School Resources Officer Program