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College seeks to enhance diversity, inclusiveness

By Pete Rosenbery

A diversity and inclusivity committee that started meeting in the fall 2016 semester is exploring methods to enhance diversity and provide guidance to the college on how to better meet the needs of students, faculty and staff.

The 12-member committee, which meets at least once a semester, will also share what constituents are thinking and saying about diversity while also paying close attention to confidentiality and privacy when communicating concerns, Dean Andy Wang said.

The committee’s goal is to achieve academic excellence, increase the feeling of a welcoming environment and sense of community, and a sustainable climate that ensures educational benefits of diversity in students, faculty and staff. A strategic plan to improve diversity in the college will be developed through the committee and the college’s leadership team, Wang said.

The college “must be proactive, not reactionary,” Wang said.

Tyra Poindexter, a junior in mortuary science and funeral services from Evanston, is committee chair.

“I think it’s a great opportunity. I think it’s great that faculty and my peers want to come together and figure out how to make this part of campus more diverse and more inclusive,” she said. “I’m honored to be a part of it and I’m really excited to see where it is going to go.”

Poindexter recalls last semester when Thomas Shaw, associate dean for administration, stopped her after class. Initially believing she was in trouble, Poindexter laughed as she recalled Shaw telling her that instead he believed she would be a great fit for the committee.

Poindexter, the daughter of Nathaniel and Teri Poindexter, graduated from Evanston Township High School. She came to SIU Carbondale because the university offers the only bachelor’s degree for funeral service and mortuary science in Illinois. She will graduate in May 2018; an older sister, Naté, graduated in 2016 from the health care management program.

Poindexter volunteered to be committee chair.

“I’m a natural leader, so if there is an opportunity for me to step up and help a community or small group of people … that’s all for me,” Poindexter said.

The committee held its first meeting in November and a second meeting in March. Poindexter said it’s important for her to find out students’ thoughts. She would like to see all committee members receive Safe Zone training; the training educates the university community about LGBTQ issues.

“I believe that would be a great start to open the eyes to a different side of campus and a different side of diversity,” she said. “I believe it’s so easy for people to think diversity is simply about ethnicity or race, it definitely has a lot to do with cultures and lifestyles as well.”

Poindexter sees the committee’s purpose as helping to enhance and improve on what the college has in place.

“I’m very pleased that Tyra leads this committee,” Wang said. “As a student, she has the first-hand information from students, thus she is in a good position to work with the committee and the Dean’s office on diversity issues and the actions the committee recommend.”

Wang said he encourages the committee to reach out to students, faculty, and staff to regularly seek feedback and suggestions throughout the year.