Dear SCU Community:

Today, May 1st, marks May Day also known as Worker’s Day/International Workers Day in many places throughout the world/country. Let us take a moment to reflect on the work and labor that takes place every day within our campus and our communities. What are ways that we, as individuals, can recognize this labor and continue to build an equitable SCU community that is safe, just, and promotes positive social change? We recognize and honor the contributions and achievements of all who work at SCU and around the globe.

It is an exciting time to be on campus amid all of the programming and engagement taking place. We want to wish the Law students that are starting their exams and those that will be graduating in mid-May all the best and much success on their exams and in their next chapters.

This month’s newsletter highlights a number of different programming efforts – from today’s Spring Quarter Diversity Forum, the Inaugural Native American Symposium, the 3rd Annual PowWow to the continued Cultural Shows by the MCC groups and the Multicultural Recognition Ceremonies taking place in June.  We encourage all members of the SCU community to take advantage of these opportunities to engage and participate with these efforts.

DIVERSITY FORUM

The Spring Quarter Diversity Forum is today, May 1st from 5:30pm – 7:00pm in the California Mission Room, Benson. The Spring Quarter Diversity Forum will provide the opportunity for attendees to engage in discussions on a range of topics including the diversity core requirement, increased student engagement with Campus Safety, SWANA (Southwest Asian and North African) awareness, the Multicultural Center (MCC) space and preparing to become a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) and other topics.

---

UNIT UPDATES

I. Inclusive Excellence Division

• A special thank you to all that gave to the Inclusive Excellence Area and the Diversity and Inclusion funds as part of the record breaking Day of Giving that was on April 12th. We are excited to build on this momentum to further raise money for efforts to benefit DEI across the campus. 
• We were excited to engage with the newly admitted students during the Unity Night and Open House weekend. Thanks to everyone involved.
• Formation of a new LGBT+ Equity, Justice and Belonging Taskforce, with Faculty Co-Chairs, Sonja Mackenzie and CiAuna Heard and Student Co-Chairs, Isabella Bunkers and Juliana Huerta
• The next installment in the Democracy Series will be on  Tuesday, May 9th - The Jester and Democracy featuring Alex Ubokudom. Here is a brief glimpse into this workshop - The 21st century has seen a boom of satirical news programs in the United States. Political polarity, social media and the growth of streamers all contribute to the rise of television shows that use comedy as the sugar to make the melancholic medicine of politics go down. But what role do these types of shows play in shaping political discourse or even affecting the behaviour of the citizenry? Also, how does each performer shape the satirical vehicle that they man? (Additional details will be shared via a separate email)
• The next Inclusive Excellence Innovation Lab is on Thursday, May 4th from 9:00am – 10:30am in the Williman Room, Benson. The focus will be on the JEDI efforts through the College of Arts and Sciences and guest speaker, Dr. Maggie Hunter.

II. LEAD Scholars

• In April the LEAD Scholars hosted: 
  • The LEAD Senior and Alumni Happy Hour to welcome graduating seniors into the LEAD alumni family. 
  • A group of LEAD Scholars on a visit to the Institute for Contemporary Art in San Francisco to view the exhibit, "Resting Our Eyes", as well as other art on display. This event was part of our First-gen and Black activities. LEAD Alum, Isabelle Rodriguez '20, ICA's External Relations Manager, provided us with a tour of the museum.
  •  
  • A Spring welcome back picnic; info sessions on summer school scholarships and fellowship funding for unpaid internships and other co-curricular opportunities; workshops on financial literacy and the internship search; and a conversation with the Equal Opportunity and Title IX Office.
• The LEAD Senior Celebration will take place on Monday, May 15 from 5-7 PM in the Locatelli Center. Register today to join us!

III. Multicultural Center (MCC)

• Congratulations to the Multicultural Center on a successful Global Village that was held on April 16th.

• A number of Cultural Shows will be taking place this May and early June:
  • Korean Student Association (KSA) on May 5th at 6pm
  • Latinx Student Union (LSU) Carnival on May 14th 
  • African Student Association (ASA) on May 20th
  • Hawai’I Luau on June 3rd
• The annual MCC McBeary’s will be held on Sunday, May 21st.

IV. Office of Equal Opportunity and Title IX

• Task Force on Title IX Changes and Alternative Resolution Practices: A new University Task Force convened its first meeting on April 27 and will be meeting periodically over the next year. The Task Force has three goals:
• Assist with legally mandated language changes to our Title IX policy.
• Assist with a comprehensive review of the Discrimination, Harassment, and SexualMisconduct policy.
• Continue development of a model for alternative resolution practices addressing allegations of harassment and discrimination at SCU.
• It will be imperative that the Task Force hear from stakeholders across the campus. The first stage of the process will address critical questions in light of new Title IX federal regulations that will be finalized in May and which universities will likely need to implement by the Fall.  
• Ongoing outreach and engagement: We welcome any invitations to come speak with your organization or office. We can explain our process and the focus on supportive measures, and we welcome your concerns and suggestions. azisser@scu.edu
• New campaign posters now available: Please contact us for new Resources and Reporting campaign posters. The focus is supports and debunking myths about the Title IX process. These revised posters are the product of collaboration with student leaders.

• Hiring: Please circulate the investigator positions that have been posted.
• A fond farewell and thank you to Jenna Elliott as she leaves Santa Clara University this month. We are appreciative of the service that she provided to the community and wish her and her family the best on their next endeavors.

V. Office for Accessible Education (OAE)

• The OAE is excited to announce that we had the awesome opportunity to participate in Unity Night and Preview Day this year! We enjoyed meeting incoming families and answering any questions that came our way. 
• We also had our first ever Paint Night! We had an awesome turnout and it was amazing to see the creativity that came from the students. Keep an eye out for the next one!!
• Reminder to all that all testing has to be scheduled (7) days in advance through the OAE Portal. Especially as we move into Law finals at the beginning of May and then undergrad finals shortly after, it is important to remember that there are no exceptions as we are limited on space. 
• To all senior OAE students, please check in with our front desk to get your OAE Cord!! This is the first time this has been offered and we want to make sure that all seniors get the opportunity to grab one.
• We can see summer on the horizon, keep up the great work!!

VI. Office for Diversity and Inclusion

• 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 11:30am – 7pm.

• In addition to the PowWow, SCU will be hosting its inaugural Native American Symposium on Friday, May 5th from 9:30am – 4:30pm at Mayer Theatre. The focus of this inaugural Symposium will be on the Federal Recognition process and the Muwekma Ohlone. To learn more: https://www.scu.edu/diversity/native-symposium/

• Soaring Across Borders: A Migration Gala will be on Sunday, May 7th from 12 Noon - 2:00pm with keynote Yosimar Reyes, a nationally acclaimed poet who was born in Guerrero, Mexico, raised in Eastside San Jose and explores themes of migration and sexuality in his work. During this gathering, we’ll celebrate the beauty of migration and support the Santa Clara University undocumented student community at this fundraiser for the Cabrini Fund which provides support for emergency needs, volunteer and unpaid internship opportunities, and scholarships for undocumented students. 
  • The Gala will be held at the Locatelli Activities Center. Tickets can be purchased - $10 for students; $40 for non-students. There are also free student tickets available for those who would like to join, but for whom cost may be a concern. Interested students can contact Sarah Dagnino at sdagnino@scu.edu.

• The Spring quarter schedule for Safe Space and UndocuAlly workshops for Faculty & Staff is now available. You can sign-up for Safe Space and UndocuAllyworkshops.

VII. Office for Multicultural Learning (OML)

• The Office for Multicultural Learning/Rainbow Resource Center ends every year with our six Multicultural Recognition Ceremonies. Graduating undergraduate and graduate students can sign up to be honored in any of the ceremonies in which they identify. By attending the ceremonies, graduating students will receive a stole, cord, or bandolier to celebrate this moment. Staff, faculty, alumni, and community members are all encouraged to attend to help honor our students. The deadline to RSVP is 12:00 PM on Monday, May 15th. You can sign up by scanning the QR code on the flyer or using this RSVP form link. 

• The newest episode of our podcast, Word on the Street, was released last week. In the latest episode, one of our SIEs has a conversation with Program Directors Jazmine Low (She/Her) and Maria Autrey (She/They) from the Ignatian Center to discuss the work done surrounding immersions with the center. The podcast is available on Spotify, Apple podcasts, and YouTube.
• Our first Difficult Dialogue of the quarter will be happening on Wednesday, May 10th at 7:30 PM in the Office for Multicultural Learning. The event is titled "Being Third Culture and International @ SCU" and we will discuss issues such as  being displaced, visa struggles, and the third culture/international experience. Two of our SIEs will hold space for a social after the dialogue.
• We celebrate May as Asian, Pacific Islander, South Asian (APISA) Heritage Month. In honor of this month, one of our SIEs is hosting a queer movie night on Friday, May 12th at 7:00 PM in the Library Taping Room A to watch the film Front Cover (2015). As stated in the New York Times, the film "takes a gentle, thoughtful look at the intersection of ethnicity and sexuality." We are working on other events for this month, so stay tuned for more. You can also enjoy our APISA Heritage Hits playlist on Spotify all month long.
• We also recognize May as Mental Health Awareness Month. Our second Difficult Dialogue for the quarter will be about decolonizing and dewesternizing mental health. The event will take place on Monday, May 22nd at 7:30 PM (location TBD). Similarly, we will have other events throughout the month to center mental health conversations.

VIII. Office of the University Ombuds

• The Office of the Ombuds provides confidential, informal, and impartial services to address conflict and communication issues for faculty and staff, but one of the best ways to work with conflict is to embed the needed communication tools to address and prevent harmful conflict in an office or department. The Ombuds is a communication resource who may offer consultation and provide skill building opportunities and dialogue to help offices steer conflict away from harmful conflict and engage in a way that fosters learning and growth.
•  If you would like to consult confidentially with the Ombuds about bringing communication tools and dialogue into your office or department, schedule an appointment at ombuds@scu.edu. 

---

CAMPUS PARTNER

Campus Ministry and the Rainbow Resource Center recently sent thirteen SCU undergraduate students to attend IgnatianQ at Fordham University, a conference for LGBTQ+ students from Jesuit institutions across the country. Students connected with one another and shared what it is like to be queer within a Catholic campus. From breakout sessions on activism for more institutional support to a drag show celebrating queer expression, students shared the pains and joys of the LGBTQ+ experience. Our students who attended are eager to bring what they learned to create a more affirming campus that celebrates and supports our SCU LGBTQ+ community. 

---

DEI Resources from the Library

The Library is celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander 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 Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. 

Book Recommendations 

On Earth we're briefly gorgeous

Description:  "On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous" is a letter from a son to a mother who cannot read. Written when the speaker, Little Dog, is in his late twenties, the letter unearths a family's history that began before he was born -- a history whose epicenter is rooted in Vietnam -- and serves as a doorway into parts of his life his mother has never known, all of it leading to an unforgettable revelation. - Provided by Publisher 

America is in the heart : a personal history

Description: First published in 1943, this classic memoir by well-known Filipino poet Carlos Bulosan describes his boyhood in the Philippines, his voyage to America, and his years of hardship and despair as an itinerant laborer following the harvest trail in the rural West -Provided by Publisher 

Streaming Media Recommendations: 

Breaking Ground: Episode 1

This series traces the story of Asian Americans, spanning 150 years of immigration, racial politics, and cultural innovation. It is a timely look at the role that Asian Americans have played in defining who we are as a nation. In an era of U.S. expansion, new immigrants arrive from China, India, Japan, the Philippines and beyond. Eventually barred by anti-Asian laws, they become America’s first “undocumented immigrants.”

A Grain of Sand: Music for the Struggle by Asians in America

The 1970s group was the first time that many ears were treated to a fusion of folk with Asian American political content, American jazz elements and English and Spanish lyrics. Miyamoto's ethereal voice carried many songs in the seminal 1973 album A Grain of Sand: Music for the Struggle by Asians in America along with bandmates Chris Kando Iijima and Charlie Chin. Songs such as 'Imperialism Is Another Word for Hunger' and 'Warriors of the Rainbow' advocated for social justice not just for Asian Americans but for all people of color. - from article

---

SPOTLIGHT: Film Screening of Far East Deep South

The APISA (Asian Pacific Islander and South Asian) and the Black Employee Resource Group (ERG) will be hosting a film screening of Far East Deep South, which will include a discussion and dinner. The screening will be on Wednesday, May 17th from 5:00pm - 7:00pm in the Williman Room, Benson. For more information, please contact: Melissa Thiriez mthiriez@scu.edu.