DEI, short for “diversity, equity and inclusion,” is an organization framework that seeks to promote fair treatment, as well as full participation of all people, especially those who have been previously marginalized, such as women, people of color, people with disabilities and LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (or questioning.)
The three notions of DEI together represent how the concepts are related and interwoven with each other. Organizations, such as Lake Land College, have incorporated this idea to not only make campus life a safe and lively place, but also a way to exchange ideas and learn from each other based on different life experiences.
Mercury Bowen, who is currently the Coordinator of Diversity Equity Inclusion & Belonging here on campus, illustrated at the MLK event on MLK Day at Eastern Illinois University, “One of the single most powerful tools we have in contributing to the betterment of society is, in fact, education. . . By utilizing our combined resources and platforms to educate and inform people about things like misconceptions, stereotypes, and underrepresented history, we can empower others to be better equipped to help refute these stigmas in everyday situations.”
Kimberly Hunter, who is the current director of Student Success Services, cited that “DEI initiatives are the reason that we have curb cuts and handicap-accessible doors. They are the reason that students with disabilities can receive accommodation. These things are the reason that women can vote or hold credit cards in their names. Acknowledging things that make us different and evening the playing field so that everyone has the same chance to succeed is not the same thing as giving anyone unfair advantages. It is making sure that we remove as many barriers to success as possible and can then let people succeed based on their own merit.”
Hunter mentioned “DEI has been around for well over a decade, far longer than many of its members have been employed at Lake Land. It has had many names, but the mission has always been to help educate all the Laker Community on the value of seeing our differences, as well as similarities, as opportunities for learning.
While the office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging has not existed quite as long as the committee, the two share similar missions of making certain as many students, employees, and community members within the Lake Land community and beyond feel seen, heard, welcomed, and represented.”
About why some people, namely President Donald Trump, have a problem with DEI, Hunter explained, “There has been a great deal of misinformation that “DEI” programs somehow offer unfair benefits to some individuals over others based their status in certain categories. Really, we are all diverse in who we are from one another. We want everyone to come to the table of learning fairly (that is what equity means, really, is fairness), and all students should be included. It is supposed to be inclusive, not exclusive.”
Regarding whether Lake Land will continue its DEI program during the Trump presidential administration, she stated that she could not comment on that and to direct the question to the college administration.
Let us hope that Lake Land will continue the DEI program. Maybe it is possible to change its name so that the Trump administration would not come after the college and withdraw its federal aid. Lake Land has demonstrated that it is better for instituting the DEI program to varying degrees across campus.
