Inclusive Excellence Newsletter - April 2023
Dear SCU Community:
As we start this Spring 2023 academic term, we are excited about the breadth of activities and events that will be taking place that highlight the value and importance of diversity within our SCU community. From the upcoming Day of Giving, Unity Night to the different cultural shows, speakers, conferences, the PowWow and the respective cultural achievement ceremonies, and much more.
This past Friday was Cesar Chavez Day, where we continue to honor the life and legacy of his social justice activism and his partnership with Delores Huerta to co-found the United Farm Workers organization where they fought for farm workers and workers rights.
It was also International Trans Day of Visibility. We want to hold and lift up members of the SCU Transgender community at a time of increasing hostility in different parts of the United States. We would like to recognize and hold space in our hearts for the victims of another tragic school shooting that took place at the Covenant School in Nashville, TN. We cannot stay silent when members of our community are attacked and threatened. We need to be willing to stay engaged, speak up and raise awareness against these injustices.
We also are mindful that the start of this term includes important religious observances for members of our community including Passover to Good Friday & Easter and Ramadan.
Inclusive Excellence Innovation Labs
The first two Inclusive Excellence Labs provided valuable feedback. Future labs have been scheduled and are open to the SCU community:
April 6, 2023 2:30pm – 4:00pm, Williman Room, Benson
May 4, 2023 9:00am – 10:30am, Williman Room, Benson
June 7, 2023 2:30pm – 4:00pm, Williman Room, Benson
UNIT UPDATES
I. Inclusive Excellence Division
- We are excited about the upcoming Day of Giving on Wednesday, April 12th and the opportunity for members of the SCU community to help support a number of diversity and inclusion funding initiatives. Each gift regardless of size helps to make a huge difference.
- Shá Duncan Smith, Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion will be holding Office hours this quarter on Tuesdays from 2- 3PM, 2nd Floor in the Walsh Administration Building. Please sign up for a 15-minute slot by using the following link: https://calendar.app.google/cq8ffHgbfoeRfn916
II. LEAD Scholars
- Join us for the LEAD Senior Celebration on Monday, May 15 from 5-7 PM in the Locatelli Center by registering here. We’ll celebrate our graduating seniors, hear from student speakers nominated by their peers, as well as President Sullivan, and recognize some of the outstanding students in our community. This event will also include food and drink.
- We are sending Andrea Jackson off on her next adventure with our best wishes! She worked with LEAD for over six years and played an instrumental role in the expansion of the program, serving first as Assistant Director and most recently as Associate Director of Curricular and Co-curricular Engagement. We are incredibly grateful for her many contributions to the program. Her last day was March 31st.
- In March, LEAD offered a reiki session to provide students an opportunity to relax just before finals. We also hosted English and Spanish information sessions for admitted students and their families in collaboration with Undergraduate Admissions and the Office of Financial Aid.
- We are excited to offer a range of student programs throughout April on topics such as financial literacy, the internship search, building a LinkedIn profile, as well as a First-gen & Black visit to the exhibit “Resting Our Eyes” at the Institute of Contemporary Art in San Francisco.
III. Multicultural Center (MCC)
- The MCC is gearing up for Global Village on Sunday, April 16th. More details to be shared via email by the MCC.
- A number of Cultural Shows will be taking place:
- Vietnamese Student Association Cultural Show – April 15th at 7pm
- Barkada (Filipino Student Association)- April 21st & 22nd at 7:30pm
- Intandesh (Indian Student Association) – April 28th
- MENA (Middle Eastern North African Student Association) – April 29th
- MCC’s Black Market will take place on Thursday, April 6th from 11am - 3pm on the Benson Lawn outside of the Shapell Lounge.
IV. Office of Equal Opportunity and Title IX
- April begins the start of the Spring Quarter and is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. We would like to remind you to take stock in the areas you may need further support as we understand that various events and activities may be triggering for some. We'd like to remind you of the many ways to interact with our office.
- Our office is responsible for oversight of reports made to the university when incidents involve harassment and discrimination in all forms including gender and sexual based harassment, discrimination and sexual misconduct. You can file a Request for Support & Assistance form for yourself or someone you know online. As a reminder, if you are a staff or faculty member and learn of an incident alleging this type of concern, you are required by law to report it to the university.
- Regardless of your decision to pursue a formal complaint and investigation with the University, you are entitled to and given access to supportive measures and support resources. We are happy to discuss any and all options and possibilities for your individual case and needs. You can also reach out to Title IX Coordinator Aaron Zisser directly at azisser@scu.edu or Deputy Title IX Coordinator Jenna Elliott at jrelliott@scu.edu for further consultation and support.
- ADDITIONAL SUPPORT RESOURCES:
- We understand that sometimes it feels more comfortable to speak with a Confidential Resource. On our campus that includes members of the CAPS team (including Counselors In Residence) and members of the Wellness Center including VPEs and PHEs. One of the best resources in the Wellness Center is Bree Van Ness. If you are curious about Survivor Advocacy and Support please connect with the Wellness Center.
- BRONCOS RISE SUPPORT GROUP: Broncos Rise is a FREE support group for SCU Students. Run by the ERA Center and housed in the Wellness Center it is a safe place, space and opportunity for students impacted by sexual violence to connect with others.
- Broncos Rise Group: 600-730PM, Tuesdays
- Start date Week 2: Tuesday, April 11, 2023
- Hosted at The Wellness Center
- Facilitated by Theresa Samuel Boko and Kim Panelo Xue of Era Center.
- Students need to register online and the ERA Center will follow up over email. https://www.era-center.org/scu-broncos-rise
V. Office of Accessible Education (OAE)
- Please remember to log into your OAE Portal and request accommodations so that you can have them as soon as possible.
- Any and all questions should be directed to OAE@scu.edu or call 408-554-4109.
- Just a reminder that our office hours are 8am- 5pm Monday through Friday but testing hours are 8:30am - 4:30pm.
VI. Office for Diversity and Inclusion (ODI)
- The 3rd annual SCU PowWow will take place on Saturday, May 6th at the St. Ignatian Lawn in the center of campus. PowWow will go from 11am – 7pm. More details to come.
- In addition to the PowWow, SCU will be hosting its inaugural Native American Symposium on Friday, May 5th from 9:00am – 5pm at Mayer Theatre. The focus of this inaugural Symposium will be on the Federal Recognition process and the Muwekma Ohlone. More details to come on sessions and opportunities for engagement.
- The Spring quarter schedule for Safe Space and UndocuAlly workshops for Faculty & Staff is now available. You can sign-up for Safe Space and UndocuAlly workshops.
VII. Office for Multicultural Learning (OML)
- The Office for Multicultural Learning/Rainbow Resource Center is hiring! We are about to launch the hiring process for our Student Inclusion Educators for next year. The deadline to apply will be Sunday, April 16th. Stay tuned to our weekly newsletters and social media for more details on how to apply.
- April is recognized as Middle Eastern North African (MENA) Heritage Month as well as GAYpril. Stay tuned for specific programs and events to honor these heritage months. You can start by listening to our MENA Heritage Month or Silicon Valley Pride Spotify playlists.
- We are collaborating with Queer and Qualified for an event named "Influencing for Social Justice: A Conversation with Blair Imani." We will be hosting the activist, author, and educator Blair Imani for a virtual conversation. While Blair will be on Zoom, we will all be in community together in a classroom to speak with her. This event will be Wednesday, April 12th at 7:00 PM (location TBD).
- Did you know that OML/RRC can support student, staff, and faculty programs through Multicultural Learning Grants? If you are hosting events that require financial assistance, you can complete this Google form to apply for the grant. Please note that applying does not guarantee you will receive the money because it is only while funds still exist.
- We will be ending the year with our six Multicultural Recognition Ceremonies. To all the BIPOC and LGBTQ+ graduating undergraduate and graduate students, you can sign up for our ceremonies and receive a stole, cord, or bandolier to celebrate this moment. The RSVP form to sign up will be available soon, but we wanted to pass along the dates and times to everyone to pencil in:
| DATE |
CEREMONY |
TIME |
LOCATION |
| June 11, 2023 (SUN) |
Latinx Recognition Ceremony |
2:00pm - 3:30pm |
Mayer Theatre |
| June 11, 2023 (SUN) |
Lavender Graduation Ceremony |
6:00pm - 7:30pm |
Locatelli |
| June 12, 2023 (MON) |
Native American Recognition Ceremony |
5:00pm - 6:00pm |
Williman Room, Benson |
| June 12, 2023 (MON) |
Middle Eastern North African (MENA) Recognition Ceremony |
6:30pm - 7:30pm |
Williman Room, Benson |
| June 13, 2023 (TUES) |
Multicultural Mass |
2:00pm - 3:00pm |
Mission Church |
| June 13, 2023 (TUES) |
Black/Pan African Recognition Ceremony |
5:00pm - 6:30pm |
Locatelli |
| June 14, 2023 (WED) |
Asian, Pacific Islander, South Asian (APISA) Recognition Ceremony |
5:00pm - 6:30pm |
Locatelli |
VIII. Office of the University Ombuds
- The Office of the Ombuds provides multipartial, informal, and confidential services to assist faculty and staff to promote a climate of equity, dignity and respect. The Ombuds works informally, impartially, and confidentially to assist faculty and staff with conflict, communication, and other issues with colleagues and/ or the organization. If you’ve got a specific issue in mind or if you’d like look at your communication to be a positive influence in your office, please feel free to Visit the new University Ombuds website at scu.edu/ombuds. Contact the Office of the Ombuds at ombuds@scu.edu; 408-551-3542.
CAMPUS PARTNER
Inclusive Excellence is proud to be a sponsor of the Climate & Environmental Justice Conference: Faith-based, Community-based, and Academic Collaboration for Action at SCU on April 27-28. Organized by the Environmental Justice and the Common Good Initiative in affiliation with the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities, the conference will advance community-university partnerships to promote climate and environmental justice in Northern California, Latin America, and Jesuit higher education. Panels will center how environmental issues intersect with race, Indigeneity, and income by featuring the voices of organizational leaders on the frontlines of environmental and social justice movements.
Faculty and students, community organizers and advocates, policymakers, social ministry leaders, alumni and friends of SCU are invited to participate in this free conference, open to the public. Register for the conference to join in person at SCU or view the livestream of the plenary sessions.
DEI RESOURCES FROM THE LIBRARY
The Library is celebrating National Arab American Heritage Month with a book display at our Library Help Desk. Feel free to stop by and browse the items we have available to learn more about the contributions of Arab Americans.
A. Book Recommendations:
Conditional Citizens by Laila Lalami
Description: In this brilliantly argued and deeply personal work, Pulitzer Prize finalist Laila Lalami recounts her unlikely journey from Moroccan immigrant to U.S.citizen, using her own story as a starting point for an exploration of the rights, liberties, and protections that are traditionally associated with American citizenship. - from the publisher
I was their American Dream by Malaka Gharib
Description: Malaka Gharib’s triumphant graphic memoir brings to life her teenage antics and illuminates earnest questions about identity and culture, while providing thoughtful insight into the lives of modern immigrants and the generation of millennial children they raised. Malaka’s story is a heartfelt tribute to the American immigrants who have invested their future in the promise of the American dream. - from the publisher
B. Streaming Media Recommendations:
Corner Store: Immigration and Family
Corner Store is the true story of Yousef Elhaj; beloved shop owner, Palestinian immigrant and long-distance father. Ten years ago, Yousef left his wife and three small children in Palestine to start a new life for them all in San Francisco. For the past decade he has worked day and night to build a small business, save money, and become part of his adopted community while still trying to stay connected from afar. - from Kanopy
The Music Of Arab-Americans: A Retrospective Collection
The Music of Arab Americans presents the recorded music of Arab Americans during the first half of the twentieth century. Originally on 78-- rpm discs, these recordings present the music of an immigrant generation that has received little study - from review
