{"id":4031,"date":"2022-05-20T09:08:56","date_gmt":"2022-05-20T14:08:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/equity-inclusion\/?p=4031"},"modified":"2022-10-25T14:47:22","modified_gmt":"2022-10-25T19:47:22","slug":"may-2022","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/community-belonging\/2022\/05\/may-2022\/","title":{"rendered":"May 2022"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"DEI<\/p>\n

Dear students,<\/div>\n
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Happy end of the academic year! Congratulations, seniors! These are exciting and nerve-wracking times for many of you. These are times for forging new paths and new dreams. Time to trust that you are ready to take that next step and to remember to be kind to yourself. Some of you may have a job lined up or a graduate school to get ready for, and some of you are still figuring out that next turn in your life. Regardless of where you are at, it is okay. Take time to celebrate the completion of your undergraduate career, because it is no small accomplishment.. Be in the moment and reflect on your journey. Be thankful for the friends you made, the memories that will guide your future reunion conversations, and rejoice in your hard work. This is just the beginning.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Dreams<\/span><\/p>\n

By Langston Hughes\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Hold fast to dreams\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For if dreams die<\/span><\/p>\n

Life is a broken-winged bird<\/span><\/p>\n

That cannot fly.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Hold fast to dreams<\/span><\/p>\n

For when dreams go<\/span><\/p>\n

Life is a barren field<\/span><\/p>\n

Frozen with snow.<\/span><\/p>\n

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St. Olaf College to Recognize Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a Federal Holiday!<\/span><\/p>\n

Starting in January 2023, St. Olaf College will honor and recognize Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a federal holiday by not holding classes that day and making it a holiday for our students, staff, and faculty. This is no small accomplishment. This year the Martin Luther King Jr. Day Committee, led by Taylor Center for Equity and Inclusion<\/a> Director Martin Olague ’04, presented a proposal to the President\u2019s Leadership Team to honor MLK Day as a federal holiday. The proposal was approved by the PLT and moved to a faculty vote since it impacts the academic calendar. Last week the faculty voted, with the majority vote in favor of making this change. Thank you to the members of the MLK Day Committee for pushing for this change. This is the best example of grassroots work \u2014 students, staff, faculty, and leadership came together to create change. Let\u2019s keep those efforts coming!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Symposium<\/span><\/p>\n

Thank you to everyone who participated in the DEI Symposium, whether by presenting, leading a roundtable discussion, engaging in professional development, or by attending the different activities. We spent two days in community together, learning and growing. We launched the symposium with a home run by listening to Assistant Professor of Music Tesfa Wondemagegnehu<\/a> speak truth to power, challenge our minds and spirits, and bring us home with music. Then we learned from our students, staff, faculty, and alumni about their experience, work, and passion with DEI. Finally, we recognized the efforts of several students, staff, and faculty who have become catalysts for change. Check out this St. Olaf News story<\/a> for a summary of events and a great slideshow of photos from throughout the weekend taken by Steven Garcia ’20.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month<\/span><\/p>\n

As we continue to celebrate AAPI Heritage Month, several members of our community engaged in a hands-on workshop to build Hmong story cloths led by the Center for Hmong Arts and Talent (CHAT<\/a>). Hmong story cloths have been sewn for generations in Laos. These embroidered clothes are called paj ntaub or “flower clothes.” They tell stories of the community. To learn more and see photos from the event, go here<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Reading List<\/span><\/p>\n

It is important that we increase our knowledge about the realities of AAPI populations. Their stories, experiences, and history in this country vary. Check some of these books out. These are only a few selections and do not cover the experiences of all these communities:<\/span><\/p>\n