Ithaca College

Posted on behalf of Roger "Doc" Richardson, Interim Chief Diversity Officer

Dear campus community,

As I walk across the Ithaca College campus, going from meeting to meeting or stopping to take a break for lunch, the opportunity to engage in brief conversations with students, faculty and staff members willing to dialogue about their impressions regarding the climate on campus has been most informative. The insightfulness of these recent conversations has been illuminating — and upon reflection, somewhat disturbing.  

A central theme of these conversations is about people that feel silenced or are deciding to be silent to avoid being viewed as oppositional, racist, or not supportive of the discourse taking place on our campus. Within these brief exchanges, I have heard stories of individuals feeling ostracized and even bullied for not having the same level of dedication and commitment to the changes being advocated for at this time. Many have shared that they feel their point of view is disregarded because they are not completely aligned with others. 

These conversations cause me to think deeply about the notion of higher education as a laboratory of democracy, where equal treatment with equal rights for all is the core principle. The academy of higher education is often referred to as a marketplace of ideas where the articulation of perspectives and opposing points of view, with both oral and written arguments, is expected, welcomed and supported. As someone whose entire career has been spent in higher education administration, I have consistently upheld these values through my work. Why? Because language matters.

I believe passionately in the respectful expression of ideas, whether they align or not. It pains me — deeply — to hear that members of our IC community are silencing themselves and internalizing their fears. Any form of silence or bystander behavior is unacceptable. Didn't we learn this already from the "Blue Sky” campus event? We cannot repeat past mistakes as we move forward to achieve the transformative change we know we need.

Some in our community may still be confused and indifferent about what’s happening on campus, despite the number of individuals who have given voice to their truth. The collective voice of advocacy is operating at the same time that silence has taken hold of others. I compel everyone: don't take the easy way out. Give voice to your thoughts and ideas. Help breathe life back into the core principles of our “laboratory of democracy.” Assist in fostering a safe campus environment that supports all of us as we give voice to our truth as members of the IC community. 

Seeds of Engagement 

In the past several weeks, dialogue has occurred between individuals and groups, in classes across our five schools, within academic departments, and among some faculty, staff and students. The seeds of engagement are starting to sprout through these supportive and respectful dialogues. Those looking for ways to voice their truth can participate in activities and events that offer the opportunity for interactions and conversation before the end of the semester and make a deliberate effort to participate in the Martin Luther King Jr. Week activities when we return to campus for the spring semester.  

Last week, the Climate Survey Work Group (CSWG) met with Rankin & Associates, the consultants who will help IC conduct a campus climate study that will collect experiences and perceptions of the cultural and institutional climate here at Ithaca College. The results of this study will help us identify what will be required to transform our campus environment so that when we speak of IC our voice is one of pride. To accomplish this goal your involvement is indispensable. Rankin & Associates will share more specific information when they return to campus on February 2 and 3 to meet with students, faculty and staff members to provide an overview of the campus climate study purpose and process.  

Even without such a survey, though, we know we must review our policies, practices and procedures and make changes that impact our pursuit of inclusive excellence at Ithaca College. More importantly, we must acknowledge that real change starts with our willingness to change our own hearts, minds and behavior. As Mahatma Gandhi said:  “You must be the change you wish to see in the world.”  

The approaching winter break affords all of us an opportunity to relax and enjoy time with family and friends, whether we celebrate a particular holiday or not. It also offers time to reflect on the many initiatives we will continue to work on as a community to address racism and cultural bias. We must understand that the Action Steps to Address Racism and Cultural Bias are a living plan and we will seek feedback and evolve the plan to best serve our community as we move forward. To that end, I must stress that the logistics associated with some action items may impact the timeline and completion dates. When this occurs I will inform the campus community.

It is also important to note that the action items build upon the successful work of existing offices, departments and diversity programs. New initiatives will reinforce and expand upon what is currently in place to achieve an inclusive campus community. The action steps are guided by the goals of advancing increased support for ALANA, multicultural and underrepresented students, and educating all students, faculty, and staff in the area of cultural competency — all to ensure that IC’s “laboratory of democracy” is realized, and to guarantee a safe community for student learning inside and outside the classroom. 

Updates on the Action Steps to Address Racism and Cultural Bias: 

·      The Office of Public Safety/ALANA Student Engagement workgroup has successfully submitted a “Peace Bill” that has been adopted by the Student Government Association. Members of the workgroup have also submitted a scope proposal for the establishment of a Public Safety Satellite Office that would be located centrally within the main area of campus. This action item was initially recommended in discussions with resident assistants and students earlier this fall semester. Public Safety has garnered student input regarding this request and preliminary research will begin in the spring semester. The timeline for this initiative will depend on the logistics associated with it, however a requested completion date has been set for Fall 2016.

·      A new action item with proposed implementation for Fall 2016 is the establishment of a Diversity Postdoctoral Fellow in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) programs. Faculty and staff members have identified this as a major need to support underrepresented students pursuing STEM undergraduate degrees. This new initiative will be modeled after IC’s existing and highly successful Dissertation Diversity Fellowship.

·      The Residential Life and Office of Public Safety Workgroup has been holding regular meetings in preparation to provide input into the review process for both the Community Review Board and the external review of Public Safety. The draft model and recommended scope for these actions items is still being worked on and will be shared with the workgroup for review in the spring semester.

·      The Council on Diversity and Inclusion Campus Survey Workgroup met with our consultants, Rankin & Associates, last week and received an overview of the campus climate study project. The survey will seek information about our satisfaction with all facets of our social, educational, and work-related campus environment.  As mentioned above, the consultants will return to campus in early February to provide an overview of the campus climate study for IC students, faculty and staff and to answer questions regarding the study process.

·      The Faculty Council Taskforce on diversity and inclusion is continuing its work and plans to develop a data based-toolkit for faculty members to use as a classroom resource in February.

For those available this Wednesday at 3:00 p.m., I highly encourage you to attend the screening of “The Color of Fear” in the Klingenstein Lounge and participate in the conversation afterward.  

I wish you peace, and a restful and enjoyable break.

Sincerely,
Doc 

Dr. Roger (Doc) Richardson
Interim Chief Diversity Officer and
Associate Provost for Inclusion and Engagement