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On November 10, 2016, the Equity & Inclusion Steering Committee hosted a lunch meeting with student leaders and resource center activist in order to continue to seek clarity on programmatic, governance, and staffing of the center.

EISC Agenda Meeting #2

October 10, 2016

1. Review and approve Principals
2. Review and approve Timeline
3. Review and approve expansion of committee per timeline workload
4. Discussion of student volunteer compensation for research
5. 5 minute talk at Faculty Meeting Tuesdays
6. Additional student members
7. What are the parameters for student engagement in the steering committee
8. Expanding the steering committee to include students

EISC Agenda Meeting #3

October 26, 2016

1. Review, approve, and publish guiding principles.
2. Review and finalize stipend for research
3. Discuss and agree on resource center committee membership, initial tasks, expected outcomes, and timely reporting dates.
4. Calender remaining EISC meetings, including EISC meeting with student leaders on Nov 10th
5. Agree on format of meeting(s) with trustees; draft invitation

We’ve met three times since the beginning of the semester and like any new group of people, we are getting to know one another – the strengths and talents we bring to the team, and most importantly, we’re breaking down our charge, establishing timelines, scheduling meetings with a wide swath of concerned constituents on campus – all while remembering that change is a process and many many folks who are no longer on campus have been part of the change process that got us to this unique opportunity to make a difference.

We’re hear to listen before we make recommendations and to help that process we’re opening up standing office hours between now and Spring Break so that you can come to any of us with concerns, constructive criticism, and ideas!  Be aware that when you present ideas – as awesome as they are to you, we’ll ask you Why?  and we’ll keep asking you Why?  so that we can better understand in order for us to make better recommendations in a timely way.  The clock is ticking – tic…toc…so don’t stay silent – let us know what you think – we’re one email away! equitytaskforce@wesleyan.edu

Task Force Office Hours:

Elisa Del Valle Cardona, Director, Student Activities and Leadership Development, New Student Orientation,
Office Hours: Monday 12pm-2pm, USDAN 124

Antonio Farias, Vice President for Equity & Inclusion, Title IX/Sec. 504 Officer, Posse Veteran Scholars Liaison (Tri-Chair),
Office Hours: Thursday 8am-10am or by appt. North College 317

Matthew Garrett, Associate Professor of English, American Studies, Director Certificate in Social, Cultural & Critical Theory,
Office Hours: Wednesday 11am-1pm, or by appt. 285 Court St, Rm 309

William Johnston, Professor of History, East Asian Studies, Science in Society, Environmental Studies,
Office Hours: Wednesday, 2-4pm or by appt. PAC 135

Makaela Kingsley ’98, Director, Patricelli Center for Social Entrepreneurship,
Office Hours: use link http://bit.ly/1OaLilK

Caroline Liu ’18,
Office Hours: Friday, 10:30am-12:30pm PCSE Boardroom, Allbritton

Henry Martellier ’19,
Office Hours: Tuesday/Thursday, 2-3pm USDAN 1st Floor Court

Shardonay Pagett ’18, (Tri-Chair),
Office Hours: Wednesday/Thursday, 4-5pm, USDAN 126

Gina Athena Ulysse, Professor of Anthropology, Feminist, Gender & Sexuality Studies (Tri-Chair)
Office Hours: Tuesday, 2:30pm-5:30pm, 281 High St, Rm 4

Listening Tour:

• We will meet with the following key stakeholders for 15-20 minutes to begin our discovery phase of the work.
• 2/2/16 (12pm-12:20pm) Usdan 104D– Gender Resource Center Group
• TBD – The WSA & The Equity and Inclusion Student Advisory Group
• 2/10/16 (12pm-12:15pm)– Usdan 108 – The Administrators & Faculty of Color Alliance (AFCA) Lunch
• 2/11/16 (1:30pm-1:45pm) –Usdan 108 – The Division of Student Affairs Meeting
• TBD   – Faculty Meeting –Shanklin 107

Elisa Del Valle Cardona, Director, Student Activities and Leadership Development, New Student Orientation

Being a member of this Task Force is not just about my work here at Wesleyan, it’s about my life. It’s about how my own experiences with racism, sexism and classism have hurt me in profoundly deep ways; it’s about how my privilege with heterosexism, skin color and ability level has consciously and unconsciously hurt others. It’s about being a part of something that will create sustainable change to not just make Wesleyan a more equitable and inclusive place, but to also make it home for so many students, faculty and staff who feel like guests. I will bring everything I have to this Task Force including the Brooklyn hustle I learned from my dad, the unyielding courage that I learned from my mom and the raw honesty that Wesleyan students hold me accountable for each and every day of my work. This task force for me is about liberation

Antonio Farias, Vice President for Equity & Inclusion, Title IX/Sec. 504 Officer, Posse Veteran Scholars Liaison (Tri-Chair)

I came to Wesleyan two years ago because it was an opportunity to work with highly motivated students, faculty, and staff who care about changing the world as we find it – unequal, inhospitable, uncaring, broken. It’s been a long ride from the Bronx of the ‘70’s to where I find myself now as the institution tries to evolve beyond “diversity university,” by trying on a new set of threads that must be meaningful and sustainable. My world of work is dynamic and morphs from day to day given that 3500+ human beings on the campus that at times, intentionally or not, make others feel anything but included, respected, and valued. The task force is an experiment in collaborative problem solving on a public stage and beyond the specifics of the charge, it’s a test of how the friction generated by difference can be put to work for a more equitable Wesleyan of tomorrow.

Matthew Garrett, Associate Professor of English, American Studies, Director Certificate in Social, Cultural & Critical Theory

My learning and experience have taught me that social equality should be treated as a fact of nature rather than a lofty ideal. To the extent that this university refuses or is unable to recognize that fact of nature and to shape itself accordingly, things need to change. I agreed to serve on this task force because I have some measure of confidence that it might help in changing things. To do that, the task force will require sustained pressure from, and serious exchanges with, faculty and students. In particular, I think the collective intelligence of the faculty—its historical perspective and critical edge—will need to play a central role. When people have a lot to learn, it’s a good time to be an educator. But teachers also need to be taught, and on that front I hope this task force will work intensively with the students, as well.

William Johnston, Professor of History, East Asian Studies, Science in Society, Environmental Studies

My first encounter with racism hit me hard. While in primary school, my best friend and I listened to Bill Cosby’s records and laughed hysterically at his stories. I loved him. When I was 12, I was able to buy a poster of him and put it on my bedroom wall. Later that day, my father came in and said, “Take that down. I’m not having the picture of a black man on a wall in my house.” I was angry and hurt and knew he was profoundly wrong. And I wanted to do all I could that would prevent people from judging others on the basis of their skin color. Another encounter that hit me hard came many years later, in the fall of 2000, when Max Roach, the great jazz drummer, played at Wesleyan. Racism had become a focus of attention on the Wesleyan campus during the ‘90s, and I wanted to believe that the situation had improved. But somehow, when I had a chance to talk with Mr. Roach, he said, “You know, racism is as bad in this country now as it ever was. It just takes different forms.” And when I started to look closely and to listen to my friends, I knew he was right. Now, the mandate we have received has created an opportunity to initiate genuine change here at Wesleyan. It is time to begin a genuine and ongoing dialogue about race that, I hope, will be part of a seismic shift not only here at Wesleyan but in American society.

Makaela Kingsley ’98, Director, Patricelli Center for Social Entrepreneurship

I believe that Wesleyan is uniquely equipped to navigate the tough stuff — but we have to roll up our sleeves and get into the weeds. So let’s do that. I’ll bring to this role: a deep commitment to human-centered design, transparency, and context; 22 years of institutional (Wes)memory; recognition of my privilege; recognition that people I care for are hurting; anger about legacies of injustice; and optimism about the future. Tackling social problems with sustainable solutions is my day job. As a member of this Task Force, I’ll do my best to practice what I preach.

Caroline Liu ’18

I’ve never considered why equity, inclusion, and diversity matter so much to me because it always made sense that they did. When there are people in pain because of who they are rather than what they’ve done—when you see these people everyday as your classmates, colleagues, or closest loved ones—it doesn’t make sense that they should inherently deserve, expect, or receive less than others. As a daughter of Chinese immigrants, a woman of color, and a low income student, I have experienced what it is like to receive less, but by attending a private liberal arts institution I have also learned the ways in which I have received and continue to receive more from a biased system. What makes sense to me is that when we recognize these inconsistencies between opportunity, between access, between quality of life, we are critical of why they exist, and we hold ourselves accountable to make positive changes for ourselves, for our loved ones, and for those who are still hurting.

Henry Martellier ’19

My name is Henry Martellier Jr, and I am just a freshman at Wesleyan. As an African-American, first generation, low-income student, I can identify with struggles many minority students face on campus. Furthermore, despite my short time as a college student, I can feel the pain from the stories of upperclassmen that have desired change for years. It is clear that despite Wesleyan’s commitment to diversity, there is much work to be done to give everyone the best opportunity to be successful. We are having conversations about issues of race, gender, and other important identifiers that make people unique in their own way. But are we taking the proper steps to establish long lasting change that will ultimately make Wesleyan a better institution for present and future students. I am here on this task force because we can no longer be passive. Too many students have waited for change during their four years here to see nothing get done. Students who feel disadvantaged should have a place to express their concerns and receive the support they need. Ultimately, I want the voices of my peers to be heard and their ideas to finally become part of Wesleyan’s culture.

Shardonay Pagett ’18, (Tri-Chair)

Growing up, I was constantly told that education was the only way to “make it out” of the hood. I was raised in the Brooklyn projects where schools are old prisons and where education is put on the back burner because education does not pay the bills. As a black, low income, first generation college student, there are often mments when I am reminded that Wesleyan is an institution created not to cater to individuals like myself. These are the moments when I feel alone and silenced in my academic and social pursuits, as well as, the moments when I am asked to be the voice of my race in a classroom where I am the only black face. I am a member of the Equity Task Force because I am dedicated to disrupting the working systems that continue to isolate numerous students on campus. I want to work to bring attention to our needs and to help to establish a sense of belonging for all students.

Gina Athena Ulysse, Professor of Anthropology, Feminist, Gender & Sexuality Studies (Tri-Chair)

My reasons for serving on this task force are simple. In June 2015, the Board of Trustees issued a very strong statement on Wesleyan’s commitment to equity and inclusion that shows they were already thinking about issues raised by students’ IsThisWhy protest. Coupled with the national movement/uprising in universities and colleges across the country, I believe we are in a moment full of opportunity that requires those of us concerned with making institutional changes to become more consciously active in this process. So, I decided to step up to the plate, if you will, ready to participate, inspired by young people eager to learn and who refuse to accept their marginalization and unequal education as status quo. I am also motivated by colleagues (faculty and staff) who are enthusiastic about contributing to expanding and reshaping our campus, while committing to a place where greater belonging is possible. I often ponder Alice Walker’s great title, “If the present looks like the past then what does the future look like?” Indeed, what exactly does it mean that in the 21^st century, this institution appears as though we are from a previous era? Wesleyan has fallen way behind in matters of “diversity”. We need to take bold and rather giant leaps to catch up before even thinking of leading. As a Black woman who has successfully made her way through academia, being committed to inclusion has been a non-option for me. It has been a difficult road as I negotiate racism and live with codes and devaluation I inherited from history every single moment of every day. As a student activist then, and as an academic activist now, my goal remains the same: I want a different experience for new generations. I still dream of a more socially just world for everyone.

Faculty: Matthew Garrett, William Johnston, Gina Ulysse (tri-chair)
Students: Caroline Liu ’18, Henry Martellier ’19, Shardonay Pagett ’18 (tri-chair)
Staff: Elisa Cardona, Antonio Farias (tri-chair), Makaela Kingsley ’98

Members of the Wesleyan community,

In these troubling times, when campuses across the nation are grappling with institutional racism, I continually ask myself what more we can do to ensure that the lives of all of our students, and in particular our students of color, are free from discrimination that harms their experience at Wesleyan.

Two years ago, I was hired as Vice President for Equity and Inclusion and Title IX Officer, stepping into a position that President Roth created in 2008 when he recruited Sonia Mañjon to Wesleyan.  My first task was to reorganize our operations into a new Office of Equity & Inclusion, whose efforts extend to the entire campus community. Our intention from the start was to expand our focus from sexual violence to encompass all discriminatory behaviors that affect members of the Wesleyan community.  We hired a full-time senior Director for Equity Compliance and a part-time Dean was made full-time. Both Dean and Director serve as equity advocates and have done a great deal to support students of color and marginalized communities. My hope is that students, faculty and staff will become more aware of this work and actively join us in these efforts.

All our staffing and reorganization efforts have resulted in a strong foundation for advancing equity and inclusion goals. Following President Roth’s recent message to the campus community on next steps, I briefed the Board of Trustees, the faculty, and student organizers on how the Title IX Core Team will be expanding its purview to include oversight over all discriminatory behavior and the creation of a positive social climate that enables all students, faculty, and staff to thrive in our community.  We will be scheduling recurring community town halls, forums, and focus groups in order to take a robust accounting of current needs as well as to tap the vast community expertise we possess in the service of creating sustainable and significant changes designed to enhance our individual and collective ability to thrive. This Equity Next Steps webpage will be updated on a recurring basis in order to keep the campus community informed as to progress and will serve as a historical record of change efforts.

We cannot fix what we cannot see, and it is apparent from the heartrending stories I’ve heard from marginalized students that our system of documenting and investigating instances of discrimination is not sufficiently understood and used across the campus. Reporting is an essential first step to get at the root causes of discriminatory behaviors that are caustic to the learning process. We currently have a draft bias protocol designed to educate the community about keywords, definitions, and expectation of process and outcomes pertinent to our anti-discrimination policies. We also have developed an incident reporting database we call Maxient. Our Equity Compliance Office has investigated all reports of bias incidents and allegations of discriminatory behavior, and will continue to do so.

To make these efforts more visible, I have discussed with members of the OEI Student Advisory the desirability of creating an annual report to the campus community similar to the Annual Report on Sexual Violence, beginning in April 2016.  The report will detail our efforts regarding policy, education, investigations, and initiatives. This document will be available via our public website.

We anticipate filling the open position of Dean for Equity & Inclusion in February. The Dean will continue to engage with students from historically marginalized communities, with a particular mandate of increasing underrepresented and gender equity in STEM fields.

I look forward to working with the entire Wesleyan community to address the damage caused by prejudice, discrimination and marginalization and to build on achievements characterized by openness, courage and perseverance. As many of you know, my staff and I have an open door policy, and we encourage everyone to take advantage of it even as we proactively reach out to our broad and diverse community.

Sincerely,

Antonio Farias

V.P. for Equity & Inclusion/Title IX Officer