A Look Into the Future with ASG Presidents Past and Present

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ASG President Madelyn Jett (left) and Vice President Aidan McKeon will aim to integrate diversity, equity and inclusion in many different areas of student life. Jett said she is excited to work with all of her fellow ASG members to better the Miami community.

Photo provided by Madelyn Jett.

Former Associated Student Government (ASG) President Jannie Kamara hopes to see three things in the future of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) at Miami University:

1) Grassroot efforts to change university policy 2) An increase in shared governance between students and administrators 3) A shared sense of accountability

Kamara became the student body president in May of 2020. After a summer of loss, protest and change, Kamara hoped that the momentum would continue into the 2020-21 school year on Miami’s campuses.

There has been change throughout the last school year, including the creation of a DEI Taskforce, which is tasked with making recommendations to the University about new policies to implement and creating a clear vision of what DEI should look like at Miami. While she acknowledges this is an important step for the University, Kamara wants to see real action.

“Money talks at the end of day,” Kamara said. “Money does talk. If they’re not putting that financial backing behind these different departments, these different programs, these different majors, then it’s not truly transforming our campus.”

It will not happen overnight, but Kamara said that shared governance is an important step in accomplishing change. By creating better relationships between students and administrators, a better partnership will be created. Kamara said it is vital that this relationship is seen as a partnership, not as a customer-consumer relationship.

She thinks the lack of information sharing between Miami and its students has been frustrating. Current ASG President Madelyn Jett agrees and thinks that students often do not have a say, because the administration does not know students want a say.

“It’s kind of repetitive under our administration that they tend to ignore students,” Jett said. “Student voices aren’t heard because administrators don’t think that students care about issues, just because they’re not in the room. Getting students into decision making rooms is really, really important, but it takes a lot of great student advocates, which we do have.”

Both Kamara and Jett recognize that change in Miami’s DEI policies will have to come first from students. When students make their voices heard so that the university feels a pull towards change, then it will occur.

One of the policies Jett hopes to implement next school year would bring more students into the conversation about diversity, equity and inclusion.

All undergraduate assistants (UA) would need to complete diversity training prior to starting their role. This would help them be more aware of problems in the classroom and would help them be an ally to students of color. Jett had the idea for the program after she realized she never received diversity training when she was a UA. She is currently working with other members of ASG to draft a proposal for the program.

Some academic departments already require diversity training. Jett helped the Farmer School of Business launch similar training within the college, but her new program would expand this schoolwide.

Jett ran for ASG president on three pillars:

1) Administrative accountability 2) Student wellness 3) Diversity, equity and inclusion

“There have been many times where our administration has made mistakes,” Jett said. “Some of our initiatives under [the accountability pillar] include parking and meal plans; things that are going to be a huge uphill battle, but things that we’re excited to start working on.”

Kamara also thinks it is important for the university and its students to be held accountable for their actions. She has experienced racial discrimination on campus and knows that other students of color have as well. This has been a barrier to her learning, which is frustrating to her because academics are the reason she came to Oxford.

There have been instances where Kamara felt she needed to share her experiences as a person of color so her professors and peers would better understand racial issues. She said Miami’s lack of diversity has been a challenge.

“I think that our campus needs to be better at holding individuals who have discriminatory beliefs and practices accountable,” Kamara said. “Miami is historically a teaching institution or teaching-focused institution. How can you teach students when students in the classroom settings don’t feel as if they can show up and be their authentic selves?” Jett and her vice president Aidan McKeon also both want to advance the LGBTQ+ community. Jett said that because they are both queer students, this is an important issue to peruse.

Specifically, they want to focus on advancing the rights of transgender and non-binary student. To accomplish this, they have formed a search committee to add a Director of Transgender Equity and Inclusion, who would work with the Secretary of Safety and the Secretary of Diversity and Inclusion.

Jett’s student wellness pillar encompasses both physical and mental health. She wants to partner with different student organizations to work on destigmatizing mental health “from the bottom up.”

Jett, McKeon and the incoming ASG cabinet were sworn in on May 4. Kamara trusts that Jett will do a great job in her role, and leaves her with some parting advice:

“Always remember why you’re in the position,” Kamara said. “If you ever doubt yourself, go to other students to see what they think. Our role as presidents is to ensure that the voice of the students is heard. Find people that you can trust who will help you and support you. Leadership roles at the university are male dominated, but don’t ever let them make you doubt yourself. You know what you’re talking about. Your experiences as a leader, as a woman, as a student are valid. You are there for a reason.”

Former ASG President Jannie Kamara wants Miami’s students and administration to come together when deciding policy. She and Jett share a similar vision of shared governance, which would help students advance their interests.