Dear Beloved Community,

Antiracism. Diversity. Equity. Inclusion. 

For years, CC has used the acronym ADEI, often known nationally as DEI, but it is important that we state with intentionality these full words and not allow their meaning to be distorted. 

Paraphrasing Paulette Granberry Russell, president of the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education, at our annual meeting: 

To be against diversity is to be for homogeneity. To be against equity is to be for discrimination and the elimination of the 14th amendment. To be against inclusion is to be for exclusion. 

Of course, at CC we also know that to be against antiracism is to be for racism. We will not let our words be co-opted, misconstrued, or weaponized. And we will not allow our values to be misrepresented. 

In solidarity, 

Rosalie 

Please join us in welcoming Dr. Chistopher Sewell as the Assistant Vice President for Institutional Equity and Belonging. Christopher is joining us from Talladega College in Alabama, where he most recently served as Director of the Dr. Jewel Plummer Cobb Honors Program and Associate Professor of Humanities. Previously, he was Associate Dean of Students and Dean of First-Year Students at Williams College and served as Curriculum Manager at Praxis Labs. Christopher has worked across the educational spectrum. His scholarship focuses on the experiences of gifted students of color with college access, the

Dr. Christopher Sewell

transition to college, and the experiences of Black students at Predominantly White Institutions. He serves on the Editorial Board for the Journal of African American Males in Education (JAAME) and the Journal of Queer and Trans Studies in Education (JQTSiE). 

From Christopher: "I am so excited to join the Colorado College community and build on the work done around antiracism, diversity, equity, and inclusion. I look forward to partnering with students, faculty, and staff to build out more resources and spaces to make the College an inclusive environment." 

At CC, we believe that Academic Freedom, Freedom of Expression, and protecting our community from harassment and discriminatory practices such as antisemitism and Islamophobia, are not inherently at odds. In fact, we must vehemently protect our vulnerable populations and defend academic freedom if we are to uphold the values of a liberal arts tradition.

An executive order and accompanying memo aimed at increasing enforcement for Title VI violations related to antisemitism on college campuses was issued on Jan 22, 2025. Over the coming weeks, you will see additional communication about how the College is navigating this topic, resources available, and an invitation to provide feedback to the group of faculty and staff who have been revising our Freedom of Expression Policy. There will be multiple opportunities to provide input throughout Block 7 and additional Know Your Rights Trainings from the Colorado Immigrant rights Association and the ACLU of Colorado. Details for these events and other can be found in the “Events” section below. We encourage you to make time to lend your perspective to this important discussion. 

In January, the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education (NADOHE) and American Association of University Professors (AAUP) joined others to file a lawsuit against two anti-DEI executive orders. If you would like to stay abreast of the updates in this case, please visit the NADOHE/AAUP folder in the Belonging@CC Team.

New Resources Available:  

As concerns about interacting with immigration enforcement both on and off campus continue to arise, we want to remind you of the protocol for on campus interactions which were laid out in the Protecting your Privacy email on January 22.  You can now find the same information on our Guidance for interacting with Immigration Campus Webpage. 

In addition, you can find quick guides for off-campus interactions with law enforcement and guidance for interacting with immigration enforcement while traveling in the Belonging@CC Team.  

Additional pocket guides on various aspects of law enforcement interaction can be picked up in the Institutional Equity & Belonging office - Worner Campus Center, suite 234.

Antiracist Book Club 

Don’t forget to collect your free copy of Eating the Landscape: American Indian Stories of Food, Identity, and Resilience from the campus bookstore, and stay connected to the Antiracism Book Club Teams channel for reading guides, resources, and information about upcoming engagements. 

Freedom of Expression Community Dialogues

 

Wednesday, Mar. 26, 1-3:30 p.m. in Gaylord Hall  

Freedom of Expression Staff Dialogue Session 

 

Thursday, Mar. 27, 3-4:30 p.m. in Gaylord Hall 

Freedom of Expression Faculty Dialogue Session 

 

Join the Freedom of Expression Policy Group for Community Dialogues. In these collaborative sessions, we’ll get feedback from our staff and faculty about CC’s Freedom of Expression Policy. For questions, please contact deanofstudents@coloradocollege.edu. 

 

Disability! Let’s Talk About It! (Excel at CC) 

Thursday, Mar. 27, 3 - 4:30 p.m. in Ed Robson Arena: Chapman Room

  

Language matters! “Person with a disability?” “Disabled person?” “Differently abled?” “Neurodivergent?” According to the CDC, 61 million (or 1 in 4) adults in the United States live with a disability. The student population at CC mirrors this data. Despite this prevalence, many people feel uncomfortable or unprepared to engage in conversations about disability. We invite you to join the Accessibility Resources staff to talk about disabilities, appropriate language, and how to be inclusive in the words you choose. You can register through Bridge! 

2nd Annual Drag Show Fabulosity Ball 

Friday, Mar. 28, 8 p.m. (doors open at 7 p.m.) in Cornerstone Main space 

Join the Butler Center and host Jessica L’Whor for an incredible line up of Queens and Kings, including CC student performers and special guests. Check out the Butler Center on Instagram for more information. 

Know Your Rights with Colorado Immigrant Rights Association 

 

Wednesday, Apr. 2, 10-11:30 a.m. in Barbara Yalich Board Room 

 

Wednesday, Apr. 2, 3-4:30 p.m. in Tutt Library Timothy Fuller Event Space 

 

Annette Leyva, CIRC South Regional Organizer, will once again present a workshop to share information on your rights, resources, and support when facing potential immigration enforcement. The objective of this workshop is to increase one's sense of security, increase family stability, and promote mental health by assisting individuals and families in organizing their personal information in the event that the family faces immigration enforcement.

 

The Role of Mental Resilience in Social Change and Community Leadership 

 

Monday, Apr. 14, 12:30 PM in Tutt Library, Timothy Fuller Event Space Activism, Community, and Mental Health Panel

 

Tuesday, Apr. 15, 1:00–3:00 PM in Hibble Community Center Classroom Managing Stress and Preventing Burnout in Activism Workshop 

 

Please join the CC Political Science Department for two special events on mental health and activism! These events explore the intersection of activism and mental health, offering insights and practical skills for activists, students, faculty, and community members. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from experts and gain valuable tools for resilience! 

 

Additional events and details can be found in our Belonging@CC MS Team, and on The Butler Center and CC Chaplains office Instagram pages. 

Throughout the Block, there are many cultural and religious observances. Please visit our website to learn about the many ways you can engage and support these observances on campus and in the community.