EMU Today

The Path Forward

Recent campus and national events have underscored the centrality of diversity, equity and inclusion to the mission of Eastern Michigan University. Against the backdrop of these events, the President’s Commission on Diversity and Inclusion highly commends Dr. James Smith on two very important affirmations of these values.

The decision to dismiss sanctions against students for actions growing out of the overnight demonstration at the EMU Student Center on November 2, 2016, was warranted and wise. It balanced the governance needs of the university and the principle of participatory democracy so essential to our national well-being.

The strong expression of support for the international members of the EMU community in the midst of the current national conversation on immigration was well placed and timely. It highlighted the interconnectedness between the history of the United States and that of the world community.  Further, it acknowledged the tie-bar between global affairs and EMU’s quest as a 21st Century leader institution in higher education.

Both of these statements are critical at this unique juncture in Eastern Michigan University’s history.  A testament to EMU’s commitment to its core values, they re-set the university’s focus on rejecting hate speech and acts of intimidation, and on pursuing diversity, equity and inclusion as institutional imperatives.  They also challenge EMU to be diligent in insuring that these imperatives are operationally aligned with the policies and practices of the university.

The President’s Commission on Diversity and Inclusion calls upon the EMU community to give its maximum insights, talents and energy in building a framework that imbeds these imperatives into our institution, and that affirms a culture of inclusion for all.

The path forward continues.

February 6, 2017