Elizabethtown College has been undergoing structural changes as a result of academic restructuring. Not only has this restructuring changed what majors and minors are available at the College, but it has impacted other aspects of the school as well. Last fall I had the opportunity to write a series of articles discussing how these changes specifically impacted the Office of Diversity, Inclusivity and Title IX.
A lot has changed since that article was published, most notably the fact that as of this summer the Office of Diversity, Inclusivity and Title IX is under new leadership. Since Aug. 3, Nichole Gonzalez has been hard at work as the new Director of Title IX/Compliance Programs and Intercultural Affairs. Her primary role on campus is to oversee the implementation of new Title IX policies and regulations. She is also involved with Title IX training and oversees the Etown branch of “It’s On Us.”
In addition to her work with Title IX, Gonzalez is also responsible for diversity education on campus. One way in which she is fulfilling this role is through the “Ujima Dialogue Series.” Along with Assistant Director of Community Living – Diversity and Inclusion Programs Ellis Bonds and Associate Director of Intercultural Affairs David Stewart, Gonzalez has been hosting weekly dialogues with students over Zoom. These meetings take place on Thursday evenings at 7 p.m. and links are posted on the E-town Jay’s App.
The dialogues get their name from Ujima, the third principle of Kwanzaa. This principle focuses on the importance of collective work and responsibility within a community.
“The reason we are having these dialogues is we believe it is all our collective work and responsibility to have these conversations and make positive changes through dialogue,” Gonzalez said.
According to Gonzalez, the goal of the Ujima Dialogue series is to use the weekly Zoom meetings as a platform to “begin to have conversations about difficult topics.” In response to Black Lives Matter protests happening across the country, the meetings have so far been focused on antiblack racism. Previous meeting topics include “Why is it So Hard to Talk About Race?” And “But I’m Not Racist.”
Over the course of the next few weeks, the Ujima Dialogue Series will be hosting meetings with themes relating to the upcoming Jewish holy days. These themes include “Cultural Trauma” as well as “Truth and Reconciliation.” Gonzalez noted that “Truth and Reconciliation” is an especially appropriate theme for the Ujima Dialogue Series.
“If we start to come to terms with these kinds of things [bigotry, racism, etc.] and engage in conversation, we can begin the healing process. But that can’t be done without first recognizing the truth,” Gonzalez said.
Recognizing that truth may not be an easy process. Gonzalez herself said she recognizes that these can be difficult conversations to have, but she encouraged students to not be intimidated.
“We have themes [for the Ujima Dialogue Series], but no presentation[s],” Gonzalez said. “There is no knowledge base that we are seeking [that] everyone gets out of it. It’s a conversation and we are inviting all different perspectives to the conversation.”
In addition to the Ujima Dialogue Series, the Office of Diversity, Inclusivity and Title IX plans to highlight minority historical figures through the Jay’s App in correlation with various “history months.” As September is Latinx History Month, there have already been posts bringing awareness to significant Latinx individuals throughout American history. Gonzalez intends to continue this trend through LGBTQ+ History Month in October, Native American History Month in November and Black History Month in February.
Gonzalez noted that her office “is focused in four different areas when it comes to equity and inclusion.” These four areas are as follows: supporting students, educating the campus community, celebrating culture and history and addressing institutional inequality. In order to begin addressing institutional inequalities, Gonzalez will be overseeing the Campus Inclusion Committee. This committee, chaired by President Cecilia McCormick, aims to represent students, faculty and staff.
In addition to these changes, the Office of Diversity, Inclusivity and Title IX will continue to sponsor events on campus related to diversity, equity and inclusion. These events will be listed in the Office of Diversity, Inclusivity and Title IX calendar that can be found at www.etown.edu./offices/diversity/events.aspx.
