Second-year College student Matt Mariner approached Student Council last spring with a new idea for diversity programming called "The Mix," in hopes of bringing the University community closer together. Council will vote this Tuesday, Sept. 9, on whether to appoint Mariner to a cabinet-level position which would oversee the program.
Under his program, existing clubs and organizations can register for "The Mix" online. By doing so, they would volunteer to participate in joint programming with other selected organizations.
Groups then will be matched for either fundraising or community service projects with a subsequent social event to strengthen the new connection between the "mixed" groups.
"I hope to give a lot of different people exposure to different events, activities and people that they normally wouldn't have the opportunity to experience," Mariner said.
Council President Daisy Lundy said Council was excited about the idea from the beginning.
After more planning with Mariner, Lundy proposed a bill at last Tuesday night's weekly Council meeting to appoint Mariner to the newly-created position of program coordinator for social diversity.
"Pulling people together socially isn't enough," Lundy said. "But working together for a common purpose unites them to achieve something that benefits the entire community and builds relationships that may not have existed before."
The proposal received mixed reactions from Council members.
College Rep. David Reid expressed concern for needlessly adding to the "bureaucracy" of Council when "The Mix" could be incorporated into Council's Ethnic and Racial Affairs Committee.
School of Continuing and Professional Studies Rep. Lela Graham, echoing other representatives' sentiments, said the program sounded great but thought Council needed a week to become better informed before voting on the proposal.
Mariner said he understood that most representatives were in support of the program but questioned the means by which it should operate under Council.
Following last year's racial controversies, including an alleged attack on Lundy and a fraternity party which included several students dressed in blackface, Council Chief of Staff Noah Sullivan said the new program will help the University move past such misfortunes.
Diversity issues were yet again before the Council at Tuesday's meeting when Coalition President M. Bruce came to express a community concern by reading a troubled letter from parent of a University student.
The mother's letter expressed unease for her daughter, who recently reported that she was on the receiving end of two separate racial slurs flung at her from the open window of a passing car.
"My question is what is Council going to do?" Bruce asked. "What are students going to do to make the University a place where these kinds of things don't happen anymore?"
Dean of Students Penny Rue would not comment on this specific incident, but did say the administration takes situations like this one very seriously.
Lundy expressed hope that incidents such as this could be an impetus for positive change.
"As disturbing as it is, it's good to address these things and make something productive come from it," Lundy said. "The appointment of the program coordinator for social diversity is something Council can do here and now to address this [diversity] issue."
Rue did say she saw promise in Mariner's "Mix" program and what it could do to unify the University community.
Mariner "is trying to provide venues for students to work together in a way in which they usually divide," Rue said.
Read More
U.Va. Faculty Senate overwhelmingly adopts a no confidence vote in Board of Visitors
By Xander Tilock | 21 hours ago"The Faculty Senate expresses no confidence in the Board of Visitors for not protecting the University and its president from outside interference," the resolution read.
Faculty Senate Executives hear from Rector Sheridan and Vice Rector Wilkinson
By Xander Tilock and Grace Traxler | YesterdayRectors were in attendance for part of Wednesday’s emergency meeting and were asked about the interim president selection process.
Student leaders weigh the future of self-governance after Ryan's departure
By Brendon Bordwine | 3 days agoThe University has a historical tradition of student self-governance, which allows students to take part in decision-making processes.
