Our clocks have now sprung forward, and we are looking for the first signs of Spring. We see the horizons of the semester and academic year as commencement nears. It is a time to look ahead and back as we stand in the present. Over the course of an academic year, the many events across our College animate how diversity is our strength. They collectively represent the pulse of liberal arts education that beats loudest when peoples from different backgrounds and beliefs come together to share a meal, hear some music or poetry or a lecture, and reflect on the experience. Vibrant spaces where diverse ideas are considered and critically analyzed anchor democratic society which requires the liberal arts, the freedom of inquiry fed by intellectual curiosity.
March marks Women’s History Month. We are called to remember the fundamental role of sex, sexuality, and gender in shaping our local, national, and global communities. We recognize, in the spirit of Maya Angelou, that “Cause I’m a woman/Phenomenally. Phenomenal woman,/That’s me.” We also recall our commitment to building a community of belonging inclusive of those who identify as LGBTQI+. Consider taking a few moments to learn about organizations in our local community advancing awareness and provide critical support to the LGBTQI+ community:
Ø LGBTQ across Detroit: https://visitdetroit.com/inside-the-d/lgbtq-community-centers/ Ø LGBT Detroit in Detroit, MI: https://www.lgbtdetroit.org/ Ø Ruth Ellis Center in Highland Park, MI: https://www.ruthelliscenter.org/ Ø Affirmations in Ferndale, MI: https://goaffirmations.org/.
Diversity is a strength of our College community that thrives as we embrace the richness of human difference in all its forms which drives the dynamic relationships and innovative thinking at the heart of democracy.