DEI council to advocate for minority students, educate campus

Issues of diversity and racial equity have been major themes this year on both a school and national level.

The murder of George Floyd advanced a nationwide movement against racism and police brutality and created conversations on the state of racial issues today.

Additionally, Oklahoma Christian University made national news after a recruiter led a racist activity at a local high school. 

These circumstances have led to a new organization on campus: the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Student Council.

The DEI Student Council is a diverse group of students whose mission is to “provide a safe space for students of all colors and cultures, provide a platform for minority voices and actively hold the university accountable for promoting diversity, equity and inclusion.”

Junior Trinity Carpenter is a councilmember and said it was formed after a DEI task force was created in response to the recruiter incident.

While the DEI task force has two student representatives, it is primarily responsible for holding employees accountable and providing diversity training and Title VI information.

“[Elise Miller] and I were the students on the task force and we thought it would be cool for students to say what is on [their] mind,” Carpenter said. “Students and faculty have a different vision. If there were a council of students who will be able to hold the university accountable, [we thought] that would be great.”

Carpenter said the council aims to advocate on behalf of minority groups. 

“We are a group of students banding together and saying what we want from our campus for diversity,” Carpenter said. “We should be able to ask for bare minimums from the school. For example, one thing we want to discuss is handicap accessibility.”

Senior Yesenia Gomez was invited to join the council in its early stages. She said one of its goals is to educate fellow students.

“Everyone wants to say something or speak out, but they don’t know how to say it,” Gomez said. “They think they don’t know enough to speak out. Since our big thing is to educate others, people can find their voice.”

The council plans to educate others through a weekly book club. Information about the study will be given during the DEI student council lunch on Friday, Aug. 21. The group will begin its study with “White Fragility” by Robin DiAngelo. 

“If someone wants to find a space about race and race relations, that is the book club,” Carpenter said. 

According to Gomez, the first event will ensure students are informed about the goals and services of the council.

“There will be different tables with information about us, how to report incidents and events,” Gomez said.

Seven students currently serve on the council. Carpenter said the group hopes to add a freshman representative.

“Everyone has different experiences,” Carpenter said. “In regards to race, mine has not been the best at this school. I want to lay the groundwork so people don’t have the same experience that I did.”

Gomez said she hopes students will be open to hearing what the DEI student council has to say.

“This subject can be touchy, so I don’t want people to be defensive,” Gomez said. “Instead, I want people to think ‘OK, this is happening in my school, let me learn about it.’ We are here to educate and help situations, not necessarily be negative on campus.”

The DEI student council will host their first event on Friday, Aug. 21 in the Pavilion from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Lunch will be served. All students are invited to attend.

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