DEI Poster
Chris Doody/The Bona Venture
BY CHRIS DOODY, STAFF WRITER
Scott Sackett, a lecturer at The Jandoli School of Communications redefined the meaning and values of DEI to create a more welcoming environment.
The St. Bonaventure University communication school recently changed its diversity, equity and inclusion board to place Sackett in charge.
Changes to the board included adding a student panel to the committee and renaming the board to better fit its goal, said Sackett.
“We’ve adopted a new name — the Access and Belonging Advocacy Group, affectionately known as ABAG,” said Sackett.
Unlike DEI, ABAG has taken on a goal that is easier for everyone to understand. This group still has the same values as DEI, said Sackett.
“To me, DEI means doing the right thing. It’s shorthand for the basic life lessons one learns in kindergarten — how to treat one another,” said Sackett. “Unfortunately, the phrase diversity, equity and inclusion and the acronym have been politically weaponized. Many in the U.S. interpret DEI as discrimination.”
Many individuals in the U.S. believe DEI is trying to give others an advantage, said Sackett.
“I like the word access. I like the word belonging,” said Sackett. “That’s what we’re doing — working to make sure everyone has access and feels like she, he or they belong here in the Jandoli school and the St. Bonaventure University community.”
The Jandoli school is meant to be an welcoming environment for all students, families and alumni. No one should feel left out when attending or visiting, said Aaron Chimbel, dean of the Jandoli school.
“We want to create an environment in which everyone feels like an integral member of the Jandoli family,” said Sackett. “We need eyes and ears throughout the Jandoli school to gather feedback about our successes and shortfalls, and student feedback is critical to problem-solving.”
ABAG consists of faculty and students.
“I’m serving as our group’s coordinator,” said Sackett. “I believe everyone recognizes that we have opportunities in the Jandoli School and at St. Bonaventure University to attract students and faculty from diverse backgrounds.”
Students on the board said they hope to make a difference by making everyone feel welcomed into the Jandoli school.
“We’re just trying to make sure that all the groups on campus; [no matter] race, ethnicity, gender identity [and] sexuality all feel welcomed and seen. [Also] that we are representing their needs,” said Blair Baptiste, a junior strategic communication major.
Whether the difference is in student relations or physical aspects of the Murphy building which houses the Jandoli school, the ABAG committee is looking to make an impactful difference to be felt for years to come, said Sackett.
The Murphy building renovation at the Jandoli school’s 75th anniversary on Oct. 19th of this year poses an opportunity for the initiative, said Sackett.
“With the groundbreaking for the new facility in the offing, this is an exciting time. We’re discussing new spaces and accommodations,” said Sackett
With the update to the Murphy building in the coming months, students and faculty are going to be able to make suggestions for what to be implemented with the remodel, said Sackett.
Students believe these changes will impact other students’ day to day lives while attending the Jandoli school.
“Even like the signage that would go up in the Jandoli school [addition], we are working on looking at the current signs and deciding if updates are needed,” said Connor Amendola, a junior media studies major.
ABAG is working on getting away from the clichés of different groups, for example, doing more than just Taco Tuesday, said Baptiste.
“We plan to design fun ABAG tote bags. Leading that initiative is ABAG member and artist professor Tara Walker,” said Sackett.
Baptiste will be taking on designing the ABAG bags, with Walker’s support. The ABAG tote bags will hopefully bring attention to the group’s new name, said Walker.
“My role is to support the ABAG committee, [and] I will do everything I can to provide [ABAG] so that they can be successful in creating this sense of community and belonging in the Jandoli school,” said Chimbel.
Sackett said getting student feedback will change the negative stigma around DEI.
“What do students think? That’s what we want to know. That’s what we’ll be asking students,” said Sackett. “ I believe everyone recognizes that we have opportunities in the Jandoli school and at St. Bonaventure University to attract students and faculty from diverse backgrounds with different life experiences and varied worldviews to add to the exchange of ideas. And we need to do better to serve students, faculty, staff, and visitors with disabilities.”
The professors on the committee are Chris Mackowski, Tammy Rae Matthews and Anne Lee. The students who’ve stepped up are Alexis Serio, Claire Fisher and Ellie Foley, said Sackett.
doodycd24@bonaventure.edu
