REFLECTIONS FROM THE INTERIM VICE PRESIDENT FOR EQUITY AND INCLUSION

Greetings St. Olaf Community,

October days are here! This is one of my favorite times of year in Minnesota as the colors are changing and the air is crisp. It is a beautiful time to walk around the hill and meet a new member of the community. October is LGBTQIA+ History Month, a time to uplift the members of our LGBTQIA+ community.

Below are resources that support mental health and well-being:

• Outfront Minnesota Anti-Violence Program is a broad-based effort to end violence and harassment against and within LGBTQIA+ communities in Minnesota. They work in collaboration with survivors and community members to build safety and power — as well as opportunities for support and healing — through crisis intervention services, systems advocacy, counseling, community education, and outreach.
• Taylor Center for Equity and Inclusion
• Counseling Center offers a variety of services and programs, including individual counseling, group counseling, workshops, consultation, and referrals. Services are provided free to all currently enrolled St. Olaf students.
• Wellness Center
• Mental Health First Aid
• College Ministry

I wish everyone a wonderful month of October.

— Dr. Reginald H. Miles
Interim Vice President for Equity and Inclusion 

---

Indigenous Peoples’ Day

Monday, October 9 is a day to celebrate our Indigenous communities. It is also an opportunity to bring wider attention to issues that still impact and marginalize Indigenous people to this day.

Meet Members of Our Community

New Faces on the Hill

Name: Joseph Sepulveda Ortiz (he/him/his)

From: Dominican Republic and New Jersey

Position: Assistant Professor of English

Education:
B.A., English; French and Psychology minors | Rutgers University-Newark Honors College
M.A. and Ph.D., Comparative Literature | Rutgers University-New Brunswick

When did you start your St. Olaf journey?
August 2023

Why did you want to work at St. Olaf College?
From the moment I learned about the college’s history of student activism and its formative place in creating a more progressive institution for the teaching of ethnic studies, I knew St. Olaf was a place to seriously consider. Then, when I first came to campus and met with students, faculty, and staff, I was wholeheartedly moved by the kindness and comradery of everyone I met as well as everyone’s openness to transformative change. All of these factors make St. Olaf a unique place to do meaningful work.

As a new resident of Minnesota, what are you looking forward to trying this year?
I currently reside in St. Paul where I enjoy the easy access to lakes as well as the variety of cafes and cuisines in the area. Furthermore, I am waiting to see how adventurous I become in the winter by taking up outdoor activities like ice fishing or snowboarding. But in any case, I am open to expanding my winter hobbies.

What is your definition of an inclusive community?
I think inclusion and transformative access for traditionally marginalized communities and people is central to the work I teach and how I teach, but I am also troubled by how the term is often used. Therefore, I like to define inclusion in relation to transforming spaces so that they actually become sites where different people can self-actualize on their own terms.

What is your personal ‘tagline’?
I enjoy painting when I have free time.

Name: Lau Malaver (they/them/theirs)

From: Bogotá, Colombia

Position: Assistant Professor of Race, Ethnic, Gender, and Sexuality Studies

Education:
B.A., Spanish Language & Literature, Humanities, and Ethnic Studies | University of Colorado Boulder 
M.A., Educational Foundations, Policy, and Practice | University of Colorado Boulder
Ph.D., Critical Ethnic Studies, Gender & Sexuality Studies, Performance Studies | University of Colorado Boulder

When did you start your St. Olaf journey as a staff member? 
August 2023

Why did you want to work at St. Olaf College?
I grew up in a humongous city (9+ million people) but went to a very small school (K-4th grade) with a class of 7 students. I miss this experience and truly believe in the power of meaningful pedagogical connections we can foster; St. Olaf seems like the place for that! 

As a new resident of Minnesota, what are you looking forward to trying this year?
Visiting many lakes. Just moved from beautiful mountainous Colorado so I feel drawn to the water and humidity, truly! Also, looking forward to visiting many bookstores, and open mics, and performing my work at them too.

What is your definition of an inclusive community?
In an inclusive community, all beings (human and other-than-human) who are present are accepted and respected as they are and become and are given the opportunity to share their story, to make repair, and to engage in healing practices towards collective liberation. It begins with curiosity. 

What is your personal ‘tagline’?
Recovecos (Spanish for nooks, twists, and turns): making meaning together at the moment of encounter towards liberation from oppression.

No one knows that I …
Use them/them/theirs (elle in Spanish) pronouns, and that I went to 8 schools in a span of 13 years growing up; lots of moving and adapting. Now you know!

---

Bias Response

St. Olaf College is committed to fostering a welcoming community for all students, faculty, and staff. An informed awareness of the climate on campus is an important part of the college’s efforts to create a supportive academic and residential environment for our community. The college does not tolerate any bias incidents toward its community members. The college expects its students, faculty, and staff to refrain from acts of intolerance directed at other members, including (but not limited to) harassment, hate speech, and discrimination. Click here to access our Bias Reporting Form.

What is a bias incident?
A bias incident is any behavior or actions directed against a person or property that includes the use of slurs expressing prejudice on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, age, religion, disability, gender, sexual orientation, or gender identity and expression, but is not a criminal offense.

What happens when a bias incident report is submitted?

1. The Interim Vice President for Equity and Inclusion contacts the reporting party to acknowledge that the bias incident report has been received. 
2. The report is sent to the appropriate individuals (see below) to manage the case. Appropriate parties are contacted about the case and the cases are investigated. The College’s General Counsel is involved at times depending on the severity of the case.
3. Individuals managing cases will report back to the advisory group with the result of their cases at the end of each month.
4. Each report will indicate whether the incident is biased and will be part of the college’s tracking and reporting.

Students

• Student submits a report regarding another student – Sr. Associate Dean of Students will manage the case.
• Student submits a report regarding a faculty member – Interim Vice President for Equity and Inclusion will manage the case.
• Student submits a report regarding a staff member – Interim Vice President for Equity and Inclusion will manage the case.

Faculty

• Faculty member submits a report regarding another faculty member – Interim Vice President for Equity and Inclusion will work with the Provost’s Office.
• Faculty member submits a report regarding a staff member – Interim Vice President for Equity and Inclusion will manage the case.
• Faculty member submits a report regarding a student – Interim  Vice President for Equity and Inclusion will manage the case.

Staff

• Staff member submits a report regarding another staff member – Interim Vice President for Equity and Inclusion will manage the case.
• Staff member submits a report regarding a faculty member – Interim Vice President for Equity and Inclusion will manage the case.
• Staff member submits a report regarding a student – Interim Vice President for Equity and Inclusion will manage the case.

---

This Month on the Hill

Grose Family Lecture Series – Leigh Finke
October 4 | 4 p.m. reception | 4:30 lecture | Viking Theater (BC 012) | RSVP
The Grose Family LGBTQIA+ Lecture Series is held annually in honor of the Grose Family. The Taylor Center is responsible for the planning of the series. Leigh Finke is the first ever trans-identifying person elected to the Minnesota State Legislative and has helped push bills to promote the health and well-being of other trans-identifying people. Contact Damian Waite for more information.

Academic Exploration Expo
October 9 | 3–5 p.m. | Regents and Holland Halls | More information
Academic Programs will tell their story. All first-year and Sophomore students are encouraged to attend. 

Out for Lunch Series
October 12 | 11:30 a.m. | Taylor Center (BC 111)
If you are a faculty or staff member of the LGBTQIA+ community and interested in serving on a panel of three to share about your coming out experience, which we hope will be an inspiration to our students and campus community, contact Damian Waite for more information.

Beyond the Hill – Collaboration with Piper Center
October 24 | 6 a.m. | Taylor Center (BC 111)
Alumni Panel where students can connect with LBGTQIA+ identifying alum, and learn from their experience as they think about entering the workplace and transitioning from college. Desserts will be offered. Contact Martin Olague for more information.

Save the Date! African Caribbean Night Fall 2023
Saturday, November 18 | 7 p.m. | Pause Mane Stage
Email karibuexec-2324@stolaf.edu if you are interested or have questions.

---

Dedicated Affinity Groups for Faculty and Staff

If you want to learn more about our affinity groups and how you can get involved, reach out to your colleagues below:

African-Caribbean Affinity
KARIBU, the African-Caribbean organization at St. Olaf, is looking to connect with staff and faculty at St. Olaf. If you are an African and/or Caribbean-identifying staff, faculty or St. Olaf community member or have an interest in learning more about Afro-Caribbean culture we would love to have you be a part of our KARIBU community! We have weekly meetings, discussion spaces, food, and more.
Email karibuexec-2324@stolaf.edu if you have any questions