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Diversity and Inclusion

Category: Diversity and Inclusion

Audre Lorde: The Berlin Years

Enjoy a screening of the film Audre Lorde The Berlin Years, 1984-1992 in the Warch Campus Center Cinema. Many of you are familiar with Lorde’s work through gender studies, feminism, and ethnic studies.

She was also the catalyst who ignited the Afro-German movement in West Germany and after the fall of the wall in 1989. Learn about Lorde’s time in Berlin and her importance to German Studies.

For a sneak peek of the film, check out this clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eMvnxxFhbM

The screening is co-sponsored by the Diversity & Intercultural Center, Film Studies, German Studies, Gender Studies, and the Office of Diversity and Inclusion.

Fall Employee Resource Group Gathering

On Tuesday, October 22 from 5-7 p.m., Lawrence’s Employee Resource Groups will come together for fall festivities and fun in the Diversity & Intercultural Center.  Enjoy food catered by a local POC-owned restaurant.

The groups represented will be the Professionals of Color, Emerging Professionals, Pride (LGBTQIA+), and Global Employees of Lawrence (GEL).  Learn more about the ERGs on Diversity & Inclusion’s website: https://www.lawrence.edu/info/offices/diversity-and-inclusion/get-involved/employee-resource-groups

RSVP for the event here: http://go.lawrence.edu/13545

Every Term Needs a Plan–a workshop for faculty and staff

On Thursday, October 24 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in Hurvis, faculty and staff are invited to participate in a workshop facilitated by Dr. Angelique Davis and organized by the National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity. 

This workshop will help participants take time out of their schedule to identify personal and professional goals, create a strategic plan to accomplish them, and identify the types of community, support, and accountability necessary to have the most productive and balanced term ever. 

To learn more or register, visit D&I’s website: https://www.lawrence.edu/info/offices/diversity-and-inclusion/get-involved/every-semester-needs-a-plan

Celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day with us!

On Monday, October 14, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in Somerset, LUNA will again host a celebration for Indigenous Peoples’ Day. Come enjoy a Pow Wow Demonstration, complemented by an Emcee’s explanation of regalia, dance, and song.

LUNA will serve indigenous foods that are central to a couple of Native American tribes, along with information about the importance of each food and the tribe that it comes from.

Women on Campus Coffee Hour

On Thursday, October 17 at 8:30 a.m., please join us for the first Women on Campus Coffee Hour of the academic year.

These once-a-term events provide opportunities for female-identifying faculty and staff to come together for coffee and conversation that should help create networks of support while fostering a safe space to discuss how we can continue to work toward achieving gender equity on campus.

This special feature in The Chronicle of Higher Education might inspire or inform some of our conversation, if you’re interested in reading: https://www.chronicle.com/interactives/the-awakening

To learn more or register, visit Diversity & Inclusion’s website: https://www.lawrence.edu/info/offices/diversity-and-inclusion/get-involved/women-on-campus-coffee-hour

Indigenous Peoples’ Day

Please join LUNA for our annual Indigenous Peoples’ Day celebration! It is a day to celebrate and honor our Indigenous communities as well as commemorate the history and culture of the 11 Federally recognized tribal nations currently residing in Wisconsin.

During this event, there will be a series of activities to watch and participate in such as the powwow demonstration including dancing, drumming, and singing, and an educational gallery display on culture and regalia.

Upstander Training on Wednesday

Upstander Training prepares participants to intervene safely and appropriately when witnessing incidents of discrimination, harassment, or harm. You’ll engage with real-life scenarios to learn how to effectively identify and challenge negative narratives and behaviors.

Facilitators from Fit Oshkosh will provide an interactive training on Wednesday, October 2 from 4:30 until 8:30 in the Hurvis Room in the Warch Campus Center.

This free training is open to the public. Space is limited, though, so please RSVP: https://www.lawrence.edu/info/offices/diversity-and-inclusion/get-involved/upstander-training

“Social Class, Silence, and Solutions”–a Cultural Competency Lecture

Social Class, Silence, and Solutions on October 8 at 11:15 am

Please join us on Tuesday, October 8 at 11:15 in the Esch Hurvis Room (225) for the second of our Cultural Competency Lectures for the 2019-2020 academic year. Associate Dean of Academic Success Kate Zoromski will explore the intersections among socioeconomic factors and students’ lives at Lawrence.

For more information or to RSVP, visit the Office of Diversity and Inclusion’s website: https://www.lawrence.edu/info/offices/diversity-and-inclusion/get-involved/cultural-competency-lecture-series

Smithsonian visionary artist Joyce Scott–talk and reception on Thursday

Wondering what to expect when Smithsonian visionary artist Joyce Scott speaks on Thursday, 9/19 at 7 p.m. in the Cinema? Here are some links to her awards and works:

Her artwork draws on her family’s craft traditions and her African American heritage. Her approach employs irony and humor designed to address cultural stereotypes, along with issues of racism and sexism.

Following her talk, all are welcome to join the artist for a reception in the Pusey Room.

This event is free and open to the public.

New gender inclusive restrooms

Dear Campus Community,

In the spring of this year, the Lawrence University Common Council (LUCC) passed a Gender Inclusive Facilities Resolution, calling for changing 33-66% of restrooms on campus to gender inclusive (varying by building ability and use). The resolution and results of a recent student poll make it evident that the Lawrence Community is strongly in favor of increasing the number and quality of gender inclusive restroom facilities across campus. In response to the resolution and in support of Lawrence’s commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion at all levels and in all spaces in our community, implementation of these changes has begun.

A baseline review of all restrooms on campus was conducted over the summer showing that eleven academic buildings and residence halls fell short of 33%. Meetings were held with building occupants, and recommendations were made and presented to Cabinet a few weeks ago. The changes in these buildings will involve only signage at this point. This is a fluid process in which retrofits to existing restrooms may happen over time but are not possible now. Signage will depict fixtures in each room such as toilet, urinal, shower and ADA accessibility. Additional temporary signs will be placed at each restroom, indicating the locations of the closest gender binary restrooms. Some signs are already in place, and the remaining signs will be installed on Thursday and Friday, September 26th and 27th, marking the official redesignation of each facility.

Current gender binary restrooms changing to gender inclusive are:

  • Briggs: 2nd and 3rd floor men’s rooms
  • Wellness Center: 2nd and 3rd floor men’s rooms
  • Main Hall: 3rd floor women’s and men’s (1st floor restroom will revert to a women’s facility)
  • Steitz: 3rd floor and lower level men’s
  • Youngchild: 2nd floor men’s
  • Library: 3rd floor women’s and men’s
  • Warch: 2nd floor women’s and men’s during the school year
  • Music Drama: Shattuck lower level, women’s and men’s
  • Brokaw: 3rd floor men’s, 4th floor men’s changes to GI and women’s changes to men’s
  • Sage: 2nd and 3rd floor women’s and men’s
  • Colman North: 1st floor women’s by 126, 1st floor men’s by 121 changes to women’s

Click for the complete list of all gender inclusive restrooms on the Lawrence University campus

Please contact me with any questions or thoughts as we move forward with these changes. We are open to feedback that informs the Lawrence community about any improvement we can make to support an inclusive environment for everyone.

Christopher Lee – Vice President for Finance and Administration