Student Senate hears from Ohio U’s Division of Diversity and Inclusion

The Division of Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) shared its projects and future plans for the rest of the 2022-2023 academic year at the Ohio University Student Senate general body meeting Wednesday night.

Interim Vice President of D&I Dr. Salome Nnoromele and Executive Director of D&I Dr. Duane Bruce began by sharing why they think the D&I is important for students. 

“We want students to be able to find their home here,” Nnoromele said. “We don’t want to separate students from each other. I think that’s essential and a fundamental value for universities.”

They also discussed the university’s “Make Respect Visible” campaign which was implemented during the 2021 fall semester. Nnoromele explained that the university created the campaign to promote an inclusive culture of respect on campus. 

The D&I partnered with Passion Works, a collaborative community studio in Athens, to spread the campaign into the rest of the Athens community. Bruce noted that Court Street will soon also have signs that echo the sentiments of the campaign.

As part of the “Make Respect Visible” campaign, the D&I also revised the “My Culture Is Not a Costume” campaign. “My Culture Is Not a Costume” was first developed in 2011 by Students Teaching About Racism in Society, a former student organization at Ohio U, according to the D&I website. The campaign was created with the intention of educating students and spreading awareness of the cultural appropriation associated with costumes. 

“It (cultural appropriation) shows disrespect and a lack of understanding for other cultures,” Nnoromele said.

The D&I has also begun to merge the Multicultural Center and the Office of Multicultural Success and Retention (OMSAR) into one office. Nnoromele noted there are multiple positions that still need to be filled in order for this to happen, including both a director and assistant director for the new center, assistant director of Multicultural Programs and administrative services associate. Nnoromele said that the position for administrative services associate, as well as assistant director of the Women’s Center, will be filled within the coming weeks.

Nnoromele and Bruce also mentioned the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion audit that the university will make available to students in spring 2023. The audit, which is expected to be signed by Ohio U administration following Thanksgiving Break, has been underway since June. 

Nnoromele also discussed revisions to the Diversity Opportunity Hire Fund Program that provides more employment opportunities for people of color and the renovation of the Multicultural Center.

“We want to make the Multicultural Center a truly intercultural space so everyone feels welcome,” Nnoromele said.

In other news, the Senate appointed Rees Morris as a senator of the Minority Affairs Commission. It also passed a resolution that approved the purchase of four new plaques for the members emeriti. The total cost of the plaques came to $568, which included the 24-plate oak plaques and name plate engravings.

Senate also passed several resolutions that revised the rules and procedures of Senate elections. One of which makes all election files be recorded and stored digitally. 

And another which changed the voting time of all executive officers, senators and senate appropriations commission representatives at-large from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday to 12 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday. 

Two other resolutions pertaining to election procedures addressed outdated polling locations and fining rules along with an update to incorporate technology and digital campaigning in the language.