This Tuesday, Jan 20, the university will be holding an event that “involves continuing dialogues for engagement” surrounding the Diversity Framework. It is stated further in an email from the university that UW-Madison was “catalyzed” by all of our (read: student) demonstrative actions last semester in response to “racially charged events in Ferguson, Mo., Staten Island and elsewhere.” Not only are racially charged events that occur on campus noticeably absent from this list, which effectively means they are not acknowledging the main message of last semester’s actions, but the university has not reached out to any students to be involved in shaping this event despite their saying they have been catalyzed by US; instead, Chancellor Rebecca Blank, Vice Provost for Student Life and Dean of Students Lori Berquam, and Interim Vice Provost and Chief Diversity Officer Patrick Sims will be facilitating the discussion. The chancellor remarks that “We are most successful when each member of our campus community feels that their role in this exchange has value,” yet seemingly fails to recognize the irony in not including students in molding this event. We have passed the point of inviting students to campus events being enough; we, as students, do not feel that our roles are being valued. Now, as us students return to campus and prepare ourselves for the semester ahead (academically, socially, mentally, spiritually, and physically), it is important that we continue our efforts to better this university and make it a truly inclusive, diverse, and safe (all of which have become buzzwords in need of defining) climate. In December the student body was ignited, for some it was the first time they felt proud to call themselves a Badger, and we must work to ensure that it is not the last, and we must work so that the students of posterity can walk in as proud freshmen. The university wants us to engage on their terms, they want us to engage on their time, but we must be more than involved, we must be leaders of this dialogue. ***We are asking for MINIMAL STUDENT ATTENDANCE (with the few attendees being only those who volunteer as note takers) and otherwise involvement with the university’s diversity forum as a show of solidarity, and as a means of taking ownership of the conversation.*** This is our campus, no one knows life here better than us, and thus we need to have leadership where pertaining to dialogue surrounding it. These issues are not foreign to us, and these conversations are not new to campus, what has been missing is a strong, unified front. Last semester we began to stand together. This semester we will solidify our solidarity, and once we do, it will become clear just how much power we have to change this campus (and beyond). Now is not the time to ease off of the pedals, we must push on and push through. In this vein, the student body will hold our own dialogue as a means to discuss what we believe needs to be changed and how and why; here we will solidify our demands to the university so it leaves no room for confusion as to what we want, so that it becomes clear what we are fighting for and against. Here we will make our foundation. ***Further information concerning time and date of the student forum will be forthcoming.***
Posted on: Mon, 19 Jan 2015 02:48:09 +0000
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