The University’s first Inclusion Week has commenced on campus. Events have run from Monday, April 1 through Saturday, April 6.
It is the first time that the Student Government Association (SGA) is sponsoring Inclusion Week.
“One of the overarching goals of Inclusion Week is the promotion of ideas, activities, and conversations that seek to identify how we as a community come to understand, learn more about, and appreciate one another,” said Karla Almanzar, a junior criminal justice student and Co-Chair of the SGA Human and Community Relations Committee, which helped to organize and coordinate the event..
The theme of Inclusion Week is “Breaking Down Stereotypes.”
“We are invite veryone to participate in the many events that will take place [all throughout] the week and we encourage you to take a few moments and click the following link to learn more about the speakers, programs and activities that will take place next week,” she said.
“We are very excited from the response that we received from the other student groups who are now hosting one or more of the 15 or so events that will take place next week,” said Vaugh Clay, Ed.D., Director of Off-Campus and Commuter Services and an adviser to the SGA.
“Issues of diversity, social justice, and inclusion have always been an important part of SGA’s focus,” he continued.
Clay explained that in the past, the SGA Senate has often held individual presentations or programs.
However, this year, the Senate leadership wanted its Human and Community Relations Committee to take a broader approach in speaking to the notion of inclusion.
“That effort, which has been completely organized by students, led to the slate of programs and activities that will take place next week,” he said.
Alexis Jenkins, a graduate intern in the Monmouth Student Affairs program, has played a pivotal role in guiding and supporting the SGA and the other student groups as they organized Inclusion Week.
“I hope that Inclusion Week provides Monmouth with the chance to take a few moments here and there to think about who we are and how we co-exist in this community and in the world,” said Clay. “The more we know about each other, the more likely it is we will come to understand, appreciate and care about one another.”
PHOTO TAKEN by Namra Shueib
