O NJAN.21, The Cavalier Daily ran a lead editorial, "The center cannot hold," regarding the renovation of the Newcomb Hall Informal Lounge to a diversity center. I am writing this column both to dispel rumors and to clarify the purpose of the new center.
Around the world and in our own community, we encounter bias, hatred and misunderstanding. The creation of the diversity center is one step in the long journey toward understanding. It symbolizes our quest for the celebration and recognition of differences. The space is one of many initiatives at the University that is trying to build bridges and trust throughout our community.
The center is intended to provide all students with an opportunity to come together, learn and share as a community. New and exciting programming will be offered for students of all backgrounds ("Equity in Sports," "Diversity in the Media," "Global Health," etc.). Every CIO will be encouraged to hold events together in an effort to learn more about each other. We hope that every U.Va. student will be able to experience something new in a friendly, supportive environment.
The center is being built as a result of some very dedicated and hard working University students. Last year, Student Council and the Minority Rights Coalition approached the University administration, requesting a diversity resource center be created. In addition to having the support of current students, the space was also supported by the Class of 1996, who envisioned a "Center for Cultural Fluency" when they donated money for their class gift. Students recognized a need within the University community, and through their advocacy they were able to convince administrators to support their efforts.
When the center opens later this semester, it will be the first space of its kind here at the University. An advisory committee made up of students, faculty and administrators was formed to create the foundations of the center. At the blueprint unveiling last semester, we shared our vision for the center and asked for feedback. The Cavalier Daily was the first to initiate a public dialogue, and we are excited to get their input. The kinds of questions raised by The Cavalier Daily are the beginning of a dialogue we hope to foster. We are currently evaluating several of The Cavalier Daily's suggestions.We do not yet have all of the kinks worked out for the use of the space. We will, however, continue to make improvements to the center and its programming to ensure that it meets the needs of the community. We know there may be some bumps in the road, but it is our hope that through ongoing dialogue we will both achieve the goals of the center and create opportunities for understanding.
We have heard from The Cavalier Daily, but we strongly encourage everyone to send us their thoughts on how the center should be run, what types of programs it should contain and how it should be made available. We hope people will use the center and make it their own. We want the community to have a place where it can feel empowered to learn about others, engage in dialogue and share unique experiences.
Finally, as president of the Class of 1996, I encourage people to take advantage of the center and to use it as the Class of 1996 envisioned it: a place to become "culturally fluent." In today's shrinking world, we need to learn as much as possible about each other so we are able to live and work cooperatively. To be as successful as we can possibly be, it is imperative that we are able to effectively communicate with one another.We need more than just a common verbal language to communicate. We need to understand people on a much more complex level and learn to celebrate both our differences and our similarities. I believe the diversity center can create a foundation for this vision of a different kind of world.
Julie Robey was president of the Class of 1996 and is a Member of theDiversity Center Advisory Committee)
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