The lack of diversity is bluntly obvious, even from the outside. Being a transfer student, many of my friends and relatives voiced their concerns about my comfort level with going to a "white school." I didn't realize how displaced I would feel until I finally started my first quarter here and had a hard time finding people that look like me. Having a much wider range of diversity definitely would have made me feel more welcome during my transition.
M
Marissa Lewis
10 years ago
Faculty and administration, SPU students want change! Show them that their voice matters and that you recognize the very real injustice on campus.
S
Sheila Maher
10 years ago
Only wish this had happened while I was still a student. Proud of my alma mater for taking this on!!!
K
Kari Olsen
10 years ago
This makes me very proud to be alumni!
P
Phil Morice Brubaker
10 years ago
These students are smart and reflect well on SPU. Take them seriously.
M
Meguire Heston
10 years ago
SPU Alumni, 2007
S
Stephanie Bulthuis
10 years ago
Engage our own people first so that changing the world can be possible.
T
Tyler
10 years ago
Thumbs up
R
Rachael Cherryhomes
10 years ago
Absolutely! SPU Alumna, School of Health Sciences 2012
L
Lindsey Dahlstrom
10 years ago
Before you can engage the outside culture you must address your own- this is a vital change that needs to happen. Step up to the plate SPU!
H
Holly Thornton
10 years ago
The music department definitely needs a better jazz program. In my time there there was a delapatated jazz ensemble and history of jazz class taught by one of the most milk toast white men I've ever met. Also, jazz theory should be given as an alternative to learning useless "A Tonal" theory VI.
B
Brenda Brito Espinosa
10 years ago
Illustration major
"God help me seek to be not just be understood, but to understand. To not just be given love but to show love"
SPU is time to understand, is time to listen, many students have trusted you have tried to understand you. If there is to be true community there must be shown true love, a love that starts from within and spreads out, a love that seeks to understand and listen, a love that is active.
C
Claire Nieman
10 years ago
"You are welcome here" does not equal "We will listen to your perspective and experience and allow it to change us," but maybe it should.
SHS Class of '14
S
Shana Taylor
10 years ago
This is crucial, SPU!
Z
Zeapoe Matalda
10 years ago
This is fantastic. I really hope administration can understand where students are coming from and become proactive about change in a visual manner.
L
Lindsey Widstrom
10 years ago
SPU allumna, Educational Ministries 2010
I
Ineliz Soto-Fuller
10 years ago
As a staff member at SPU I am incredibly proud of the students on this campus and am encouraged by the movement that has occurred over the past few weeks. I carry a weight everyday knowing that students I love so dearly and entrusted SPU to take care of in recruiting them to this institution are experiencing such pain. These are the steps necessary to change that. My only disagreement with this petition is that the staff needs are left out-perhaps student believe the term "faculty" includes staff but I would ask that anywhere "faculty" are labeled the words "and staff" be added. Staff have significant interaction with students and should also experience cultural competency/sensitivity training. In addition, staff of color on campus also need anonymous reporting for what they experience. Thank you for your courage! I support you and will continue to pray for this special place.
A
Amanda Reeves
10 years ago
I would love to be an alumna who can say she is proud of the way her alma mater responds and acts on these issues.
C
Caleb Richmond
10 years ago
As a alumnus of SPU, class of 2011, I ask you to listen carefully to these voices calling for change. SPU has made tremendous strides in increasing the diversity of the student body in the last decade but it is all a token effort if change is not made at the structural level. The faculty and the administration of the school needs to be radically inclusive. I know that is a long hard process for us white Christians but please be willing to listen to constructive criticism and analyze your own implicit biases. People pointing out structural and institutional racism doesn't mean you are an individual racist. It means we want to see you fulfill your full potential! So go engage the whole culture so you can truly change the world.
E
Emilio Adan Cabrera
10 years ago
I've said it before and I will keep saying it: The power to change this institution and the world we live in lies within the hearts and minds of those who are part of this community.
The lack of diversity is bluntly obvious, even from the outside. Being a transfer student, many of my friends and relatives voiced their concerns about my comfort level with going to a "white school." I didn't realize how displaced I would feel until I finally started my first quarter here and had a hard time finding people that look like me. Having a much wider range of diversity definitely would have made me feel more welcome during my transition.
Faculty and administration, SPU students want change! Show them that their voice matters and that you recognize the very real injustice on campus.
Only wish this had happened while I was still a student. Proud of my alma mater for taking this on!!!
This makes me very proud to be alumni!
These students are smart and reflect well on SPU. Take them seriously.
SPU Alumni, 2007
Engage our own people first so that changing the world can be possible.
Thumbs up
Absolutely! SPU Alumna, School of Health Sciences 2012
Before you can engage the outside culture you must address your own- this is a vital change that needs to happen. Step up to the plate SPU!
The music department definitely needs a better jazz program. In my time there there was a delapatated jazz ensemble and history of jazz class taught by one of the most milk toast white men I've ever met. Also, jazz theory should be given as an alternative to learning useless "A Tonal" theory VI.
Illustration major "God help me seek to be not just be understood, but to understand. To not just be given love but to show love" SPU is time to understand, is time to listen, many students have trusted you have tried to understand you. If there is to be true community there must be shown true love, a love that starts from within and spreads out, a love that seeks to understand and listen, a love that is active.
"You are welcome here" does not equal "We will listen to your perspective and experience and allow it to change us," but maybe it should. SHS Class of '14
This is crucial, SPU!
This is fantastic. I really hope administration can understand where students are coming from and become proactive about change in a visual manner.
SPU allumna, Educational Ministries 2010
As a staff member at SPU I am incredibly proud of the students on this campus and am encouraged by the movement that has occurred over the past few weeks. I carry a weight everyday knowing that students I love so dearly and entrusted SPU to take care of in recruiting them to this institution are experiencing such pain. These are the steps necessary to change that. My only disagreement with this petition is that the staff needs are left out-perhaps student believe the term "faculty" includes staff but I would ask that anywhere "faculty" are labeled the words "and staff" be added. Staff have significant interaction with students and should also experience cultural competency/sensitivity training. In addition, staff of color on campus also need anonymous reporting for what they experience. Thank you for your courage! I support you and will continue to pray for this special place.
I would love to be an alumna who can say she is proud of the way her alma mater responds and acts on these issues.
As a alumnus of SPU, class of 2011, I ask you to listen carefully to these voices calling for change. SPU has made tremendous strides in increasing the diversity of the student body in the last decade but it is all a token effort if change is not made at the structural level. The faculty and the administration of the school needs to be radically inclusive. I know that is a long hard process for us white Christians but please be willing to listen to constructive criticism and analyze your own implicit biases. People pointing out structural and institutional racism doesn't mean you are an individual racist. It means we want to see you fulfill your full potential! So go engage the whole culture so you can truly change the world.
I've said it before and I will keep saying it: The power to change this institution and the world we live in lies within the hearts and minds of those who are part of this community.