One of Elizabethtown College’s goals over the past several years is to provide a welcoming environment for all students who commit to the institution, regardless of background. With the rise of minority populations committing to Etown, especially students of color and the LGBTQIA+ community, it has been of utmost importance for these students to feel included and encourage discussion. Encouragement for discussion has been shown through lectures, performances, incorporations in the core curriculum and guest speakers. However, Etown has introduced a new center that is dedicated to serving as a safe space for students to collaborate, share and develop new plans to improve diversity on campus–this inspired the Center for Multicultural Affairs to open.
Located in room 208 of the Baugher Student Center (BSC), the Center for Multicultural Affairs has opened its doors this past month, welcoming students of all different backgrounds to share their experiences about their identity, whether that has to do with race, ethnicity, sexuality or any other marginalized group. The purpose of the Center is to provide a warm and safe environment where students can open up about the struggles marginalized groups face daily. Students will have the opportunity to work together to compile ideas and solutions to reduce stigma and discrimination.
Director of Diversity, Equity and Belonging (DEB) Darcey Mills weighed in on how the College is continuing to make everyone feel comfortable and safe on campus.
“Our college is deeply committed to diversity, equity and inclusion, and as our community grew and diversified, it became evident that a centralized hub was required to facilitate and amplify our efforts,” Mills said.
Mills also stated the goals that the Center hopes to achieve in the Etown community.
“Our primary objective is to foster a warm and welcoming environment in which diversity is celebrated, equity is upheld and a strong sense of belonging is fostered,” Mills said.
The senior advisor of college diversity, equity and belonging Kesha Morant-Williams also weighed in on what she hopes Etown will gain from the new Multicultural Center of Affairs and how its location will have a vital effect on the students and staff.
“It’s important to be exposed and aware of opportunities but also the visual values are important. It seems in my time here at Etown that there are a lot of people interested in a lot of different things that are going on, but sometimes it’s easy for things to get lost in the shuffle of everything else that’s going on. So, with the center being right there in the BSC in the main hallway, I think it certainly gives people the opportunity to keep it front and center,” Morant-Williams stated.
Morant-Williams also shared her thoughts on the strategic plan for opening a new center and the importance of the College investing in this new addition to the student center.
“It was well before my time before I came in and began to review the strategic plan. This is something that the College has wanted to have accomplished for a long time, but I know that it was important from the highest level of the institution and was something that was really intentional,” Morant-Williams said.
The Center plans to work with the Intercultural Diversity Board, which is composed of multiple student organizations dedicated to promoting empathy, equity and diversity both on campus and the community surrounding it. It will help develop and accomplish large-scale, student-led service projects, presentations and community activities.
If you are interested in visiting or learning about this new vital addition to the Etown Community, the Center for Multicultural Affairs is open from Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the BSC, room 208.
