Inclusive Excellence Newsletter - June 2024
Dear SCU Community:
As we approach the end of the academic term, we want to congratulate the members of the Class of 2024. Your educational journey started off in an unprecedented way as you graduated high school and started your first year of college under the shadow of the Covid-19 pandemic. Your journey at SCU has included virtual classes via zoom to the return to campus while transitioning to the new normal. Undeterred, you made a significant difference in helping to rebuild a community through your involvement both on and off campus.
As a Division, we realize that it has been a difficult year on many fronts. We are beyond grateful for the students, faculty, staff and others that have been willing to engage and work together to help enhance and advance the sense of community and belonging on the campus. We look forward to the continued expansion of this work.
LGBTQIA+ Pride Month & Juneteenth
June officially is LGBTQIA+ Pride Month and SCU started the celebrations in mid-May to help provide more opportunities before the end of the academic year. We take this moment to celebrate all members of the SCU LGBTQIA+ community and allies. A formal calendar of events is available.
In addition, we also commemorate Juneteenth on June 19, 1865 —when the federal liberation of enslaved people called for in the Emancipation Proclamation reached the southern holdout state of Texas. A federal holiday since 2021, Juneteenth is typically observed as a joyful celebration of the resilience and brilliance of people of African descent. Today at SCU, Juneteenth is an administrative holiday for all employees.
We encourage you to engage with Juneteenth celebrations and events in the surrounding area. Santa Clara University has continued to serve as a sponsor of the African American Community Services Agency's Juneteenth events in San Jose and the events are open to all who would like to attend.
UNIT UPDATES
I. Inclusive Excellence Division
- A special thank you to those that attended the Spring Quarter Diversity Forum that was held on April 29th. The summary notes from the Diversity Forum are now available. We will be finalizing the schedule for the 2024-2025 Diversity Forums and these will be made available in early Fall.
- We are pleased to welcome Tavita Chan Tung to the Inclusive Excellence Division. Tavita will be serving as the Executive Assistant to the VP for Inclusive Excellence.
II. LEAD Scholars
- We were excited to celebrate our graduating LEAD Scholars during our annual Senior Celebration on May 13th. Congratulations to our student speakers, Yajaira Orozco and Jacob Mejia; our award recipients, Daniel Martinez (Michael E. Kelly Award) and Armando Abarca (LEAD Scholars of the Year), and to all of our graduating LEAD Scholars, and their families and friends. You can check out the photos from Senior Celebration here.
- A fond farewell and thank you to Jessica Johns, LEAD Associate Director of Student Advocacy, who will be stepping down from her position at SCU in early July to relocate to Philadelphia. For over three years, Jessica has made significant contributions to developing LEAD’s wrap-around support for first-generation college students. Before that she contributed to student wellbeing through her work in the Cowell Center. We are very grateful for Jessica’s commitment to our students and all that she has done for our program and campus.
- In May, LEAD celebrated Mental Health Month by hosting discussions about careers in mental health, mental health wellness for women of color in college and the experience of first-gen students with mental health, as well as a QPR training, reiki session, paint and sip, creative coping tools workshop, and beach trip.
- LEAD also hosted events about life after college and careers for our seniors, including an entrepreneurship panel, workshops on wellness in the workplace, understanding your credit score and a Landing Your Next Gig session with a Google recruiter.
- Congratulations to the LEAD Intramural Soccer team for an amazing inaugural season!
- LEAD was honored to receive one of the first Regents Experiential Learning Initiative (RELI) grants from the SCU Board of Regents for Styling Success, a series of events developed with the Career Center and Center for Sustainability that prioritize affordability and sustainability. The initiatives include a campus-wide professional clothing presentation, an SCU free thrift store with professional clothing, and a workplace clothing shopping trip for first-generation and limited income (FLI) students.
- Congratulations to all of our students who received LEAD and REAL Fellowships this year to support their participation in co-curricular activities including internships, immersions, conferences and other opportunities! LEAD Fellowships awarded over $68,000 to support 29 students. Additionally, the REAL Fellowship Program in College of Arts and Sciences received donor funding to support first-generation college students and limited income students; 16 LEAD Scholars received over $68,500 through this funding opportunity.
III. Multicultural Center (MCC)
- The Annual MccBeary’s took place on May 24th and served as the formal transition between the 2023-2023 and the 2024-2025 MCC Board and the respective MCC organizations. A special thank you to Tanvi Syed (Director) and Malia Gibbs and Ryan Rani (Associate Directors) for their leadership and engagement.
- We are pleased to welcome the new MCC leadership - Denae Rivera, MCC Director and Kenneth Park, Associate Director for 2024-2025.
IV. Office of Accessible Education (OAE)
- As we wrap up the year, we want to remind all students to request their exams as soon as possible as space is limited for Spring Finals.
- Our team has started a new thing on our office Instagram named "Disability Talk Tuesday". https://www.instagram.com/scuoae/
- This is an opportunity to continue the conversation outside of just our space and spread knowledge to others. We have attached two of the articles below.
- Lastly we want to do a huge shout out to Media Services! They were a huge help for an individual at a recent event with a disability. This situation came up last minute and they handled it amazingly, helping the individual have a great experience. WAY TO GO!!
V. Office of Equal Opportunity and Title IX
- The Office of Equal Opportunity and Title IX 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.
- We are happy to discuss any and all options and possibilities for your individual case and needs. You can email: titleixadmin@scu.edu or you can also stop by our office at 140 Loyola Hall or call 408-551-3043.
VI. Office for Diversity and Inclusion (ODI)
- A special thank you to everyone that participated in the 2nd annual Native American Symposium that was held on Friday, May 3rd, and the 4th Annual PowWow on Saturday, May 4th. The recording of the Symposium is now available. In addition, PowWow t-shirts and sweatshirts are available for purchase. Please reach out to rplaza@scu.edu
- Speakout 2024 - Since Summer 2024, nearly 200 SCU faculty and staff have participated with the Speakout Summer Institute. This year’s virtual event is on July 10 and 11th from 9:30am - 12:30pm PT. ODI will help cover the expense for the first 30 SCU participants. If interested, please email rplaza@scu.edu by June 15th.
VII. Office for Multicultural Learning (OML)
- June marks LGBTQIA+ Pride Month! The Office for Multicultural Learning (OML), which incorporates Rainbow Resource Center (RRC), is excited to celebrate the beautiful spectrum of orientation, bodies, intersectionality, love and connection as we close out the academic school year.
- Come honor our graduates during our six Multicultural Recognition Ceremonies! These celebrations acknowledge the accomplishments of graduating students of color and LGBTQIA+ students. The RSVP window is closed for student registration, but these events will be open to the public. We hope to see you there!
- Wednesday, June 5, 2024 in Williman Room:
- 5:00-6:00pm Native American Recognition Ceremony
- 7:00-8:00pm MENA Recognition Ceremony
- Saturday, June 8, 2024 in Locatelli:
- 1:00-2:30pm APISA Recognition Ceremony
- 6:00-7:30pm Black/Pan African Recognition Ceremony
- Sunday June 9, 2024 in Locatelli:
- 1:00-2:30pm Latiné Recognition Ceremony
- 6:00-7:30pm Lavender Graduation
VIII. Office of the University Ombuds
- The University Ombuds provides multipartial, informal and confidential communication support services to faculty and staff. The ombuds assists visitors by listening and helping to clarify goals, identify issues and to explore options when addressing communication challenges, including conflict. Visitors can explore interpersonal tools to navigate challenging situations and the ombuds may provide mediation and facilitation services to promote dialogue, dignity, and respect among participants. There is no obligation when working with the Ombuds. If you want a thought partner and sounding board to think things through, the Ombuds may assist.
- If you would like to set a confidential meeting with the ombuds to explore your situation, contact the Office of the Ombuds at ombuds@scu.edu ; 408-551-3542.
DEI RESOURCES FROM THE LIBRARY
The library is celebrating LGBTQIA+ Pride Month with a book display. The display highlights authors and stories from the LGBTQIA+ community.
*To access the SCU library resources you must login with SCU username and password.
eBook Recommendations:
LGBTQ Film Festivals: Curating Queerness
Description: The book is organized around two concepts: First, 'critical festival studies' examines the political project and disciplinary assumptions that structure festival research. Second, 'the festival as a method' pays attention to festivals' role as producers of knowledge: it argues that festivals are not mere objects of research but also actors already shaping academic, industrial, and popular cinematic knowledge. Drawing on my experience on the festival circuit, this book pays homage to the labour of queer organizers, critics, and scholars and opens up new avenues for festival research. - Provided by Author
Preservation and place : historic preservation by and of LGBTQ communities in the United States
Description: Significant historic and archaeological sites affiliated with two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer history in the United States are examined in this unique volume. The importance of the preservation process in documenting and interpreting the lives and experiences of queer Americans is emphasized. The book features chapters on archaeology and interpretation, as well as several case studies focusing on queer preservation projects.
The children of Harvey Milk : how LGBTQ politicians changed the world
Description: The Children of Harvey Milk tells the epic stories of courageous men and women around the world who came forward to make their voices heard during the struggle for equal rights. Featuring LGBTQIA+ icons from America to Ireland, Britain to New Zealand; Reynolds documents their successes and failures, heartwarming stories of acceptance and heartbreaking stories of ostracism, demonstrating the ways in which an individual can change the views and voting behaviors of those around them. The book also includes rare vignettes of LGBTQIA+ leaders in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean who continue to fight for equality in spite of threats, violence, and homophobia. - Provided by Publisher.
Academic Database:
LGBTQ+ Source Contains all of the content available in LGBTQIA+ Life as well as full text for more than 140 of the most important and historically significant LGBTQIA+ journals, magazines and regional newspapers, plus full text for 150 monographs/books. The database includes comprehensive indexing and abstract coverage as well as a specialized LGBTQIA+ Thesaurus containing over 10,000 terms.
Streaming Media Recommendations:
Kanopy A streaming video service containing thousands of videos from leading producers around the world, including PBS, BBC, California Newsreel, A&E, and more.
LGBTQ Collection
Disarm Hate
Description: Nine LGBTQIA+ members come together after the Pulse Massacre to join one man, a hairdresser and activist from New Jersey without political experience, as he builds a national rally to demand LGBTQIA+ equal rights, fight the NRA and challenge America's obsession with gun violence.
VITO: On June 27, 1969, a police raid on a Greenwich Village gay bar took a surprising turn when patrons decided it was time to fight back. As a riot erupted outside the Stonewall Inn, a new era in the Gay Rights Movement was born. Vito Russo, a 23-year-old film student, was among the crowd. Over the next twenty years until his death from AIDS in 1990, Vito would go on to become one of the most outspoken and inspiring activists in the LGBTQIA+ community’s fight for equal rights.
Remember to Chat with a Librarian for additional resources!
*If you wish to collaborate with the POP Committee on an upcoming library display for a heritage month or theme. Please fill out the form.
The Inclusive Excellence newsletter will continue to be published throughout the summer to provide important updates as we gear up for the new academic year.
Congratulations to the Class of 2024!
