The Covid-19 pandemic, combined with the nationwide protests following the deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor, have laid bare the racial disparities that exist in education, healthcare, political participation, and other systems in the United States. These disparities and inequities accompany students as they enter into the learning spaces at the University of Iowa and can be exacerbated by the pedagogical approaches used. In the wake of the sudden changes in teaching during spring 2020 and the continued uncertainties that are accompanying the start of the 2020-2021 academic year, attention to equity in the student experience is paramount.

Travis Vogan, Associate Professor of American studies and Journalism and Mass Communication, is quoted in the August 17, 2020 New York Times article If a Dunk Echoes Across an Empty Gym, Is It Still Must-See TV?