CHLOE KOWALYK
Special to The Leader
On Friday, Sept. 11, The Office and Council of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion sponsored their first event of a three-event series, “The Future of Inclusion.”
The first event, titled “The Future of Inclusion: Students Discuss the Summer of 2020 and Campus Culture” featured seven diverse panelists.
Dr. Saundra Liggins, the interim Chief Diversity Officer and host of the event, informed the more than 65 participants that the objective of this event was to “give students of color on campus an opportunity to share their thoughts and experiences as a result of the events of the summer.”
The panelists featured were Jillian Beard, Crystal Robinson, Brendon LaLuz, Tiffani Robinson, David White, Ivory Brooks and Miranda Shelansky.
Each panelist discussed their experience with COVID-19, quarantine, remote learning and the recent incidents of racialized violence and protests in the U.S.
Beard spoke about how she felt as if we are “living in a history textbook,” and how surreal everything happening is.
Robinson advised new college students to “push [themselves], but know when to take a break.”
Especially being online and shut off from the rest of the world, students’ mental health is important during times like these.
Robinson said that the opportunity to speak in the event “provided a safe environment of catharsis.”
“Racism is still here,” she said. “I respected the other panelists’ perspective and found comfort in knowing that I did not fight this battle alone.”
White spoke on the ways he and his family kept positive during quarantine, and told a heartwarming story about making TikToks with his daughter.
Having 80 people register for the event meant so much to each of the panelists.
Robinson said that with COVID-19, “It was so easy to lose yourself and lose that human connection that we all value — and here we have a group of people, who by registering for the event, basically said, ‘I hear you. I see you. I’m here.’”
Overall, the students and faculty in attendance were treated with several perspectives on the bizarre happenings of the summer.
The next event in the “Future of Inclusion” series will take place at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 15, and will feature writer and LGBT activist, Tiq Milan.
Milan’s event is titled “The Future of Inclusion: Innovating a Post-COVID World.” He will deliver the inaugural Collingwood Distinguished Lecture for Diversity.
All students are welcome to attend, but they must register.
Be on the lookout via email for future events and the final “Future of Inclusion” event sponsored by the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.