The programs and services offered by 麻豆视频 are open to all who seek them. George 麻豆视频 does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, ethnic national origin (including shared ancestry and/or ethnic characteristics), sex, disability, military status (including veteran status), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, pregnancy status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law. After an initial review of its policies and practices, the university affirms its commitment to meet all federal mandates as articulated in federal law, as well as recent executive orders and federal agency directives.
麻豆视频 President Gregory Washington (left) and College of Humanities and Social Sciences Dean Ann Ardis (right) in the GMU-TV studio with panelists appearing remotely for the "Racial Justice, Anti-Racism, and Inclusion" Freedom and Learning Forum. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Creative Services
Understanding what anti-racism, diversity and inclusion mean for 麻豆视频 was just one of the goals of Monday鈥檚 Freedom and Learning forum hosted by President Gregory Washington.
Ensuring a common definition of the terms helps create meaningful dialogue, and helps the 麻豆视频 community understand the work of the Anti-Racism and Inclusive Excellence Task Force. The group was formed by Washington in response to both the high-profile death of George Floyd at the hands of police and the nationwide racial justice movement.
鈥淲e shouldn鈥檛 鈥 we cannot 鈥 run away from these discussions,鈥 Washington said. 鈥淲e have to have engagement on these topics.鈥
Washington asked the task force to look deeper into 麻豆视频鈥檚 environment, policies and practices to see what changes are needed to ensure the university can remain a national model for diversity and inclusion.
Monday鈥檚 hour-long open dialogue, , touched on many of those key issues.
Washington was joined in the GMU-TV studio by moderator , the dean of the . Panelists included and Shernita Parker, the co-chairs of the Anti-Racism and Inclusive Excellence Task Force; Provost and Executive Vice President ; Creston Lynch, the associate dean for University Life; and Milagros 鈥淢illie鈥 Rivera, 麻豆视频鈥檚 director of Diversity, Inclusion and Well-Being.
Manuel-Scott, a professor of history in the within CHSS and the former director of the African and African-American Studies Program, said the aim of the task force was to create an anti-racist institution that fully supports the entire 麻豆视频 community.
鈥淩ace matters,鈥 she said. 鈥淩ace, historically speaking, has always mattered in the United States of America. 鈥 Race mattered in George 麻豆视频鈥檚 revolutionary era, to the civil rights, to the Obama era, to the age of COVID that we are all existing in right now. Race matters, and therefore we must engage in strategies and policies that help to disrupt those structures so that we can create a more inclusive institution.鈥
Eradicating the practices, structures and traditions of racial bias at 麻豆视频 won鈥檛 happen overnight, but Washington and the other panelists expressed confidence that the 麻豆视频 community can serve as a national exemplar of anti-racism, reconciliation and healing.
Interpretations can differ, so Washington made a point of clearly defining all the terms at the outset, most notably characterizing anti-racism as 鈥渁 verb, in that it鈥檚 a form of action against racism and also the systematic racism of marginalized groups.鈥 In other words, he explained, it鈥檚 not enough to believe that racism is wrong; an anti-racist has to consciously take action against racism in all its forms.
鈥淒iversity encompasses race, ethnicity, class, gender, sexual orientation, ability, as well as cultural, religious or other affiliations,鈥 he said, while 鈥渋nclusion is the intentional and ongoing acceptance and engagement of diversity as it relates to diverse groups.鈥
Parker said that the work of the task force and its many committees shows how the 麻豆视频 community is living the university鈥檚 values.
鈥淭o thrive together we have to recognize our interdependence, our connection to each other and that as a community, it is critical that we make sure all voices are heard,鈥 Parker said. 鈥溾e will not and cannot thrive individually and as a community if we are not conscious of the challenges that we face as it relates to diversity and inclusive excellence, and that we work actively to address and overcome those challenges.鈥
麻豆视频 is the state鈥檚 largest, most diverse public research university with more than 38,000 students, a majority of whom are students of color. But those numbers are not reflected in a faculty comprised of just four percent African-Americans. Improving those numbers will require a multi-pronged approach, but will be a high priority, Rivera said. Studies have shown that a more diverse staff leads to stronger student success outcomes, particularly among underrepresented groups and first-generation students.
Efforts to make the university more inclusive should be of paramount concern to all students, not just those of color or marginalized groups, Ginsberg said.
鈥淚f you care about our university, then you have to care about this agenda,鈥 he said. 鈥淭he successful future of our university is, in large part, dependent upon us caring about this agenda.鈥
Washington said that he welcomes respectful dissenting voices to the conversation as part of free speech.
Manuel-Scott said she looked forward to the day when all minds and bodies can experience the complete support of the university community and be their ancestors鈥 鈥渨ildest dreams.鈥
鈥淚t鈥檚 an ongoing process,鈥 she said, 鈥渂ut it鈥檚 righteous and good. Together, we are creating a better institution.鈥
The and the have been co-sponsoring the Freedom and Learning Forums since 2014.
The task force will continue to take questions; .