Last semester, hundreds of students and others at the University of Wisconsin-Madison took action in response to racially charged events in Ferguson, Mo., Staten Island and elsewhere.
Catalyzed by these events, UW-Madison will explore how responses to national and international events fit with last semester’s organizing efforts and the university’s evolving Diversity Framework. Chancellor Rebecca Blank joins Lori Berquam, vice provost for student life and dean of students, and Patrick Sims, interim vice provost and chief diversity officer, to facilitate the conversation.
The core of this effort involves continuing dialogues for engagement. These dialogues begin on Tuesday, Jan. 20, at 3 p.m. in Union South’s Varsity Hall. All are welcome.
Blank and Sims will offer opening remarks and encourage discussion along several themes. At each table, facilitators will introduce specific questions at an individual level and encourage a takeaway: What can each participant do today to improve the campus climate?
“Great universities depend upon an open exchange of experiences and ideas,” says Chancellor Rebecca Blank. “We are most successful when each member of our campus community feels that their role in this exchange has value. I invite everyone to join us in these important discussions.”
“Much of last semester’s momentum came from students,” says Berquam. “I give our students tremendous credit for encouraging others to take action. We hope these students continue to ask difficult questions, spurring us to make meaningful changes at UW-Madison.”
UW-Madison’s proud tradition of activism encourages exploration of new ideas and crossing perceived boundaries. Through these coordinated sessions, the university’s efforts will feed into the short- and long-term implementation plans of the Diversity Framework.
“We recognize that many students, staff and faculty members continue to struggle with these and related issues on a daily basis,” adds Sims. “We hope these sessions will help establish trust and make this campus a place where each community member feels welcomed, valued and included.”
All staff may attend without loss of pay. Individuals requesting accommodation should contact Argyle Wade at 608-890-0341 or argyle.wade@wisc.edu. Cultural Linguistic Services will provide Spanish, Hmong, Tibetan and Chinese interpretation at this session.