The Diversity & Equity Unit’s Unity Lounge Developing a Mission Statement

Aims For This Meeting Provide a historical context for the development of the Unity Lounge. Name pertinent issues facing the Unit in supporting this entity. Being to develop a mission statement, a vision for the Unity Lounge.

Ground Rules Find the truth in others/fault in your own thinking Think outside the box Recognize the impact can outweigh intent Fun! Thinking spiritually big!

History of the Unity Lounge Came out of student activism efforts; community discussions/misinterpretations/miscommunicatio n/differences in creating a safe space on campus. Space as a limited resource in building the Davis Center Little bit of an afterthought, wanted to respond to the needs of the students Fell in to the hands of the Unit last summer.

History of D&E Unit Involvement in Developing the Unity Lounge A committee was formed that addressed several issues: – Staffing – Supplies for space – Mission Statement – Logistics of space This committee met throughout the summer, direction was a bit vague, not sure if this committee was in place to get the lounge started, or to lead direction for the full year.

Issue Present at the Time Staffing (workstudy v. paid) Resources (time, money, people) Supervision (who would oversee the lounge?) Leadership Who should take ownership? – Unit members or students?

History Continued It was decided in the summer that the committee would remain, and a few unit members would provide supervision for the student staff. Committee hired a staff of work study students via application. Committee wanted student input for vision and mission.

Awareness & Action Advocates Training under the guise that the lounge would be the student counterpart to the 4 sister units under the D&E Unit. Committee wanted the center to be driven by students. Training was put in place to provide tools, multicultural competency/intelligence.

Issues Around AAA’s Limited Work Study hours Training was confined to hours, and without a full-time member of the unit dedicated to their development, a lot was based out of grassroots activism in self-education Many AAA’s were new to the campus, programming, etc. Lacked a unified direction, leadership within the team was not clear, many still trying to find voice\ Culture of Work Study

First Semester AAA’s established a presence on campus Attempt at branding the center Community Meeting with student organizations Multicultural competency/intelligence focused Office was consistently staffed Bulletin boards Culture norm of using SharePoint established Activism (Advocats)

Second Semester Two major programs that opened the conversation around controversial topics – Elections Talk (walk through) – Sex, Drugs, Rock and Roll Bulletin Boards

Mission Statement Development Summer Committee D&E Unit Meeting Community Meeting AAA’s

D&E Unit Mission Statement To engage the University community in collaboration to create an environment of social justice, inclusion, and equity, and in so doing, help facilitate the actualization of the vision of the University as a diverse premier public research institution

Summer Committee To serve as a bridge for the Diversity & Equity Unit to educate and empower the UVM community members by providing resources and opportunities to learn respect for each other and to value each other’s unique skills and different perspectives. The Unity Lounge is a place where the UVM community can access information about the individual departments as well as a place for all identities to come together

D&E Unit Brainstorm: LGBTQA Services Friendly Warm Welcoming Informative Comfortable Space to hang Attractive Vibrant Focal point Point of pride Interconnect Safety Connect with Student Life Incorporate all missions Outreach Face time with staff Support

D&E Unit Brainstorm: ALANA Student Center Welcome Center Collaboration with student life, students, staff Student activist focused Resource center (less administrative) History Allies Walking intersections Visible Educate Student professional development for social justice activist Student organizational culture Outreach

D&E Unit Brainstorm: AAEO Collaborate with the other departments Work with more students Educate about rights and responsibilities

D&E Unit Brainstorm: The Women’s Center Resource center, mini lounge Visibility Comfortable & quiet Common ground

D&E Unit Brainstorm: Summary Collaborate D&E with Student Life Student Advocacy Common Ground Visibility Resource Student activism, development, empowerment Outreach Develops community Face time b/t student and staff

versityandequityunit/default.aspx Student work documented here!

Group 1 -People being in the office -music -open meeting space -flyer publicity -D&E snack: once a month four groups come in to sponsor/ rest stop -brochures -events outside of space Group 2 -Decorations/Student Artwork -Free Printing (limited) -Knocking down the wall (extension to student life)/conference room -Safe Gender Neutral Bathroom -Staff members of D&E (Bev, Dot, LuAnn, Kathryn) in office/Office Hours/Posted -Changing wall colors/repainting Group 3 - Free Printing -Comprehension Calendar -Bulletin Board/Fun Fact/Providing Info (One stop resource center) - Post Favorite Movies/Books lists -Continue with colorful Publicity -General Advising - Want someone to listen? -Informal Counselor -Quote of the day/Educational/Inspirational -Fun Fact -Books -Biweekly decorations by D&E student groups (with a prize for the best decorations at the end of the semester!) -Curtain for the door/ (Fire Safety?)/Beaded -Candy/Snacks/Fridge -Computer use

Group 1 -Inclusive to all identities and all four centers, -As well as people who are not active in the D&E unit (Allies) /safe space in lounge/Educational -Overlapping Identities -Incorporate all identities -Computer access to all students/Student organizations with limitations/Sign Up -Place to sit down Group 2 -Place to hang out/study space? (Two conflicting visions) -Second Home/Place to feel comfortable Group 3 -Combination of the main aspects of the mission statements from the four constituents with the addition of our own D&E section -Safe and social space -Resources -Student control/flexible -Freedom for student creativity -Informally feel connected to UVM community -Integrate ourselves to community

Group 1 -Get rid of all retail spaces/more space -Conference rooms dedicated to D&E only & D&E clubs Group 2 -Take down Terrill building and replace with all D&E unit territory -MOVE PLACES/ Operations to 1 st floor, Student Life to Operations, D&E student life -Identity development program (example Summer Enrichment Scholars Program (SESP) -Increase budget/take/steal budget from other organizations Group 3 -Flat screen TV from the wall to post calendars, announcements, etc. -Stereo -Free Printing -White board/bulletin board -Community pet/new plant/bonsai tree (These are just light-hearted wishes and hopeful thinking- so please don’t take offense to any of them! )

Where do we go from here? What are our resources? What can we feasibly give? What are the pertinent issues right now? Feedback has been taken…what do we do with it? Who has the final say in the mission? Staff? Students? A Joint effort?

Things to Think About Staffing…many AAA’s are coming back, some need to be hired. Supervision Financial resource Staffing resources Collaborative effort with Student Life