Federal policy implications lead to changes in campus activities
Recent orders from the new federal administration have caused the Multicultural Center, Advocates for Inclusive Mentoring and the Development Fellowship Program to place pauses on several on-campus programs and activities following the "Dear Colleague" letter.
Advocates for Inclusive Mentoring (AIM), Multicultural Graduation Celebration and Intercultural Leadership, Education and Development Fellowship Program (Intercultural LEAD) are currently on hold pending future guidance as CSB+SJU navigates recent federal guidelines.
Malik Stewart, director of Multicultural Student Services and coordinator of Intercultural LEAD, said he wants to make it clear to students that Multicultural Center programs have not been cancelled.
The decision to pause programs stems from the “Dear Colleague” Letter, which was issued by the Department of Education on Feb. 14. “[We will] do our due diligence, do our research, and find out what are the implications if we do not follow the guidance of Dear Colleague,” Associate Provost for Student Success Mary Geller said.
The letter explains that “treating students differently on the basis of race to achieve nebulous goals such as diversity, racial balancing, social justice or equity is illegal under controlling Supreme Court precedent.”
In another communication addressing Frequently Asked Questions, the Department of Education Office ofCivil Rights responded to confusion over what types of programs would be considered in violation of the“Dear Colleague” guidance, noting that “schools with programs focused on interests in particular cultures, heritages and areas of the world would not in and of themselves violate Title VI, assuming they are open to all students regardless of race.”
Geller emphasized that a key goal of programs and services at the Multicultural Center, and at CSB+SJU at large, is to foster “inclusive excellence,” which means that “we are all educated to live in a diverse world.” This is reflected in the fact that all clubs and organizations at CSB+SJU are open to all students, including Intercultural LEAD.
“The purpose is to develop students’ abilities to navigate cultural difference,” Stewart said.
Intercultural LEAD engages and supports historically underrepresented, high-achieving first-generation college students with a $12,000 per year scholarship, personal mentoring, student workshops and enhanced campus experiences that support emerging leaders.
“I LEAD students retain at a higher rate than their peers of similar characteristics; they graduate at a higher rate, and they’re more engaged and more involved,” Stewart said.
Similarly, AIM provides an opportunity for first- and second-year Bennies who come from underrepresented backgrounds to connect with older student mentors who share their same identities.
“It can be a space to talk about things that they’re not comfortable talking about in other areas. It can be a space to explore aspects of their own identity that again, other areas might be hostile to,” Stewart said.
Multicultural Graduation is an event intended to combine several previous celebrations: a multicultural and first-generation graduation, an international graduation and a lavender graduation for LGBTQ+ students.
“[The event serves to] combine the recognitions that we give to students, faculty and staff that are chosen by students and create one space that’s intersectional where we can all come together,” Stewart said.
In an email to all students, President Brian Bruess said “the work we do to build a truly inclusive community is a central part of our Catholic and Benedictine mission, and we know DEI is an area of growing national scrutiny…We remain unwavering in our commitment to creating an environment where everyone belongs, feels valued and is equipped to flourish.” According to Geller, this is still the position of the administration. News regarding the affected programs is expected following spring break.
