Happy week 12, Pioneers! We are getting even closer to the end. Check in with all of your academic advisors to make sure you are on track and know what to do for course registration. Do not be afraid to ask for help, and remember to take care of yourself these next few weeks. You and your mental health are always the most important.

This week, we would like to address diversity on campus within the administration and other leadership positions. As covered in our news section this week, Josie Brown, dean of the School of Arts and Sciences, will be leaving the university in July. She is currently only one of two people of color in a dean leadership position. In fact, there is only one person of color in the main university leadership, which includes the president, provost, business managers, directors of student affairs and so forth.

Diversity enriches the educational experience. We learn from those whose experiences, beliefs and perspectives are different from our own, and these lessons can be taught best in a richly diverse intellectual and social environment. It promotes personal growth and healthy societal discourse. Having diverse individuals in key administrative and leadership positions at the university is imperative.

Part of President Chris Brussalis’ Pioneer Vision 2030 is to expand diversity, equity and inclusion in academic curricula and student learning experiences, recruit and retain diverse and renowned faculty and staff and increase faculty and staff diversity by a minimum of 10 percent by 2030. But what do we do in the meantime?

From 2021-2022, there was an Office of Equity and Inclusion on campus, with individuals dedicated to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and education. When the office disbanded, these individuals went back to their original offices. While we are not saying this office should necessarily be resurrected, we are saying that DEI should be at the forefront as we search for new hires. We need an administration that is more representative of our student population.