DEI Committee Meeting (02/03/25)

Monday, 02/03/25

The DEI Committee remains steadfast in our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion at the institutional level, and we are more broadly committed to liberation from oppression at all scales. Our resolve to support this work is perhaps even stronger now as we face the current political climate, which further denigrates already minoritized and oppressed groups. Our commitment is to this work and also to each other. Sharing in our humanity will take many forms, but for now, we will endeavor to validate each other’s varied experiences and states of being among us. Given people’s positionality and particular histories with targeted harm, some may need to prioritize self-preservation for the time being, while others may feel compelled to engage in the work to an increased degree. The human experience is one of movement, so we hope to find some sense of stability amidst the shifting tides, whether changes in the sociopolitical context or changes within us. That stability may arise from being in community or simply from trusting the truth of ourselves and our realities in every shifting moment. As we enter times of uncertainty, the DEI committee plans to support upcoming initiatives of resistance and connection at the SEHD level. We will gather information about possible existing protections of our work, like academic freedom, to fortify us and to alleviate fear, which is of course a very human response to threat. We also plan to engage faculty and staff in continued conversations about how to best support this work, whether at a collective meeting or otherwise. Please join us as we celebrate Black History Month! A list of Black History Month events can be found in the attached flyer.