Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives
The fall quarter of 2016 has been extremely busy for the Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
October
In October, the LGBTQ Center hosted its first annual Pride Month in collaboration with a host of campus departments and student organizations. The month featured the first annual LGBTQ International Human Rights Lecture. Inspired by the “world-wise” mission of the University, the lecture provides students with an understanding of LGBTQ rights around the globe through the eyes and experiences of “boots on the ground” advocates. Our inaugural speaker was Maurice Tomlinson, a Jamaican attorney and passionate advocate for LGBTQ people and people throughout the Caribbean infected and affected by HIV/AIDS. Tomlinson wove a powerful personal story into his lecture of the reality of LGBTQ people who fear for their lives in Jamaica. He shared his brave court battles in Jamaican and other Caribbean nations, where he hopes to win legal justice if not social approval. Finally, he suggested what we in the states could do to support LGBTQ Jamaicans in their fight for human rights at home.
Also in October, the UDiversity Educational Institute, the Office of the Dean of Students and the SUNY Broome President’s Taskforce on Diversity and Inclusion hosted the first in a series of deliberative dialogues, “A Public Deliberation: The State of Race at Binghamton,” that provided space for community members to discuss complex issues that can lead to positive changes. The deliberation focused on three approaches: addressing racial and ethnic injustice and inequality on institutional and structural levels; reducing racial and ethnic injustice by extensively encouraging intercultural competency, diversity and multiculturalism educational training programs, and addressing racial and ethnic problems on an individual level; and focusing on people’s intentional and unintentional acts of prejudice, discrimination and stereotyping. There were also ongoing cultural competency trainings provided for students, faculty and staff.
November
In November, the Multicultural Resource Center, in collaboration with the Student Association and Binghamton Speech and Debate Team, sponsored a debate on “Police and Community Relations” to model another fruitful way to discourse on difficult topics. The debate was hosted by a local community member and featured student debaters from the Binghamton Review, Binghamton Speech and Debate Team and student Black Lives Matter activism movement. Additionally, the Multicultural Resource Center (MRC) and Student Conflict and Dispute Management Program created a student Conscious Conversations program and hosted several to help students dialogue about and process difficult topics, including the presidential election.
On Nov. 9, day after the election day, the MRC supported student leaders in creating State of Emergency, a post-election debrief that had more than 300 students and staff of all backgrounds in attendance to dialogue about the emotional impact of the election results. Lastly, the MRC Translation and Interpretation Program expanded languages and services for Arabic, Polish and Hebrew speakers, solidified a contract with the Union-Endicott School District and began contract negotiations with the Windsor and Vestal school districts to provide translation and interpretation services for the growing multilingual populations in the tri-cities area.
December
Lastly, Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion leadership crafted messages to the campus community regarding the reactions to the election and Binghamton University’s role in supporting international and undocumented students on campus. We also conducted a “RealTalk” session for faculty and staff to provide a space for open dialogue about the campus response and implications of the elections.