Dear Salem community,

Many of you may have seen the national news story about Wesleyan College, a women’s college in Macon, Georgia, and racist content in its yearbooks from the early-twentieth century. We wanted to let you know that we have found racist comments and images in some of Salem’s yearbooks from that era.

Let us be clear: Salem Academy and College abhors and categorically rejects these despicable images and words. We deeply regret these harmful words and images and the racism that fed them. Our newly formed Committee on the History of Salem Academy and College, which includes faculty, staff, student, alumnae, and trustee representation, has already begun meeting. We will be discussing this matter as we consider our next steps.

Sincerely,

D. E. Lorraine Sterritt, PhD
President