On Wed. Feb. 17, the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Office (DEIB) hosted their grand opening ceremony in the UC Pit of Razor’s Reef. NSU students were invited to a COVID-19-safe gathering in which there was a socially distanced seating area, a COVID-19 friendly distribution of t-shirts with masks and gloves and other sealed giveaways along with strict enforcement of masks by those in attendance.
During this event, students heard speeches from Brad Williams, dean of the college of undergraduate studies and the vice president of the division of student affairs, Gerard Wheeler, director of campus life and student engagement, and Emily Kolankiewicz, president of the Student Government Association, among other NSU representatives who were involved in the implementation of this new office.
According to the office’s mission statement, this office seeks to strengthen and enrich the NSU community through engagement opportunities, educational programming, vast cultural experiences and provide support for traditionally underrepresented student populations to cultivate a continually sensitive and unified environment. Upcoming event collaborations with this office include The Annual Black Excellence Showcase presented by the Black Student Union.
PC: C. McLaughlin- This opening ceremony which was held in the UC Dining Pit followed enhanced safety procedures in the prevention of COVID-19 by enforcing mask wearing and physical distancing as well as replacing microphones as each speaker came to the podium to ensure sanitation standards.
PC: C.McLaughlin- Daren Capirchio, director of Student Leadership and Civic Engagement shares a message of excitement and encouragement in potential future collaborations with the DEIB office.
PC: C. McLaughlin- Dr. Brad Williams, dean of the college of undergraduate studies and the vice president of the division of student affairs, uses an analogy of his wifes’ process of baking the brownies in his hands for this event for implementation of office initiatives seen in our daily lives.
PC: C. McLaughlin- Williams poses for the 360 degree spinning photo booth students were able to participate in during this event.
PC: C. McLaughlin- A look at the entrance to the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Office in Rosenthal Room 104.
PC: C. McLaughlin – Graduate assistant for diversity engagement, Jeremiah McCoy, celebrates the inclusion of this office into the University community and highlights support of this program to encourage all students’ needs to be met and that they provide support to all students at NSU.
PC: C.McLaughlin- Gerard Wheeler, director of campus life and student engagement, mentions in his speech that he hopes this office recognizes all students contribution to the culture of NSU and positively encourages the four pillars of of the office to be ingrained in the NSU community in the future.
PC:C. McLaughlin- Wheeler dances around the standing platform as the 360 camera spins around for the best shot as students cheer him on.
PC: C.McLaughlin – Director of Residential Life and Housing, Dr. Justin Smith congratulates the efforts of all involved in the formulation of the DEIB office and looks forward to collaborations on events and initiatives in the future.
PC:C.McLaughlin – The DEIB office grand opening featured many giveaways but the clear success was the variety of t-shirts with dictionary definitions of the four “pillars” of the office’s creation was the fan favorite.
PC: C.McLaughlin- Adler Marchand, assistant director of Campus Life and Student Engagement welcomes students with introductions to the programming of the grand opening ceremony of the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Office (DEIB).
PC: C. McLaughlin- This mural is featured in the main entrance of the DEIB office and features the four pillars that this office stands for and its definitions.
PC: C.McLaughlin- Emily Kolankiewicz, president of the Student Government Association, highlights the SGA’s involvement in this DEIB office as a student initiative for the past few years and wishes the office success in the future.
PC: C. McLaughlin- Within the DEIB office lobby there are informational handouts and flyers of future collaborations and events with Student Organizations and other university organizations.
PC: C.McLaughlin- Lunch and refreshments were offered to students who attended the event with a socially distanced seating area in the UC Pit in Razor’s Reef.
PC: C.McLaughlin – The DEIB office handed out giveaways to students that included a variety of branded t-shirts, masks and hand sanitizer.
PC: C.McLaughlin – The DEIB office handed out giveaways to students that included a variety of branded t-shirts, masks and hand sanitizer.
PC: C.McLaughlin- Hanna McGee, multicultural inter-organizational council ambassador praises the importance of diversity by drawing parallels to her experience as a student who has made lifelong friends with students from different backgrounds than her own while at NSU.
PC: C. McLaughlin- Students in the DEIB office have access to meeting rooms and personal attention to their concerns.
