One Campus, Many Cultures

As the United States reached a tipping point in the fight for racial justice and equality this past year, Shippensburg University solidified its commitment to diversity and inclusion with the launch of a new student-led initiative.

…I believe now is the perfect time to open our minds and remember that at the end of the day, we are all humans and together we equally represent our Ship family.

—Lucas Everidge, junior political science major

Diversity Week

An ongoing pandemic, a historic presidential election, and unprecedented racial tension dominated the headlines as students navigated the fall semester. With many on campus and across the country feeling overwhelmed, two Ship students found themselves inspired. Junior business administration major Lance Hines-Butts and junior political science major Lucas Everidge saw opportunity in adversity.

“Tensions are high right now in society, and because of that, I believe now is the perfect time to open our minds and remember that at the end of the day, we are all humans and together we equally represent our Ship family,” said Everidge.

Lance Hines-Butts speaks to crowd during Diversity Week.

With this thought in mind, Everidge and Hines-Butts set out to plan Ship’s inaugural Diversity Week celebration. The goal of the week, to initiate judgmentfree conversations and foster a sense of community and openness. Working with faculty, staff and students, they planned a week of programing, addressing gender, sexuality, racial, ability, religious, political and ethnic diversity. In-person and virtual events each day brought the campus community together to tackle their differences and find understanding.

… we are committed to inclusive excellence and to ensuring that all of us in our community are welcomed as part of the Ship family.

—Laurie Carter, President

Kicking off on October 11, nearly 100 people gathered at the Hockey Rink to celebrate National Coming Out Day. Sophomores Jarel Wilson and Chantè Robison, and junior Tyler Hill, members of the Free To Be Me And You group with Multicultural Student Affairs, shared their stories at a socially-distanced event. The National Coming Out Day event on Sunday concluded with an emotional and powerful balloon release paying tribute to members of the LGBTQ+ community who have passed on. Diane Jefferson, director of Multicultural Student Affairs, stated that the theme for the event was “love is in the air.” Attendees set pink heart balloons free into the evening sky representing the release of coming out or becoming their true selves.

Dr. Alison Dagnes, professor of political science, hosted a “Political Speed Dating” event, highlighting the importance of talking to people who think differently than you. Participants spent five-minute rounds talking, listening and asking questions with partners who held different opinions on American politics.

MSA and the ACT Committee (Ask, Communicate, Teach Tolerance) unveiled their project, “A Quilt to Cover Us All”. The hand-sewn quilt with patches from various campus groups was designed to help generate a spirit of unity and call for justice. In addition to the quilt, MSA sponsored a dedication ceremony of the newly renovated Gilbert Hall, followed by a student-driven storytelling event to capture how one’s race uniquely impacts and shapes campus and community life. Storytellers included: Senior Leah Mottershead, senior Brenda Aristy, ODL graduate student

Ramses Ovalles, senior Katherine Hargrove, sophomore Nequwan Ali, and senior Quamia Wells.

Diversity Week 2020 concluded with a Diversity Celebration Day. A food truck festival took the community on a journey around the world including Mexican tacos, Greek gyros, Iraqi and Argentinian empanadas, and Philly cheesesteaks. Students concluded by lighting up the night with a Ship Unite luminary ceremony and late night Glo Celebration sociallydistanced dance party.

One Campus, Many Cultures

The week-long celebration sparked a year-long theme the entire campus community adopted with open arms. The

“One Campus, Many Cultures” theme that branded diversity week appeared all over campus and motivated the community to keep diversity and inclusion at the forefront of its work.

As students returned to campus for the spring semester in February, the university celebrated Black History Month. In a message to campus, President Laurie A. Carter encouraged everyone to engage, listen and reflect on the work done and the work ahead.

“At Shippensburg University, we are committed to inclusive excellence and to ensuring that all of us in our community are welcomed as part of the Ship family. As we celebrate Black History Month in February, our commitment to inclusive excellence pushes us to continually reflect on our hard work to lead and serve in times of racial reckoning, discrimination, and social inequities,” said Carter.

I have lived with assumptions and jokes through my years but having the opportunity to share it was such a fulfilling experience.

—Skylar Walder, freshman history major

Students connect during “A Quilt to Cover Us All” and food truck event.

The month featured the virtual series “Let Every Department Shine,” with faculty from various academic departments showcasing the wide-ranging achievements of Black Americans. The Luhrs Center presented the virtual performance “The Roots of Black Music in America” and MSA hosted a dinner in Reisner featuring African and African American historical recipes.

In March the campus community recognized Women’s History Month, with a keen focus on the women of Ship. President Carter headlined a virtual leadership seminar and was joined by several leading female African American college presidents/administrators. The Alumni Association hosted virtual lunch and learn leadership sessions featuring Kim Dixon ’84, Barrie Ann George ’88-’89m, and Denise Calabrese ’86. And with service an ever present priority at Ship, the Office of Community Engagement collected unused and unopened hygiene products to Women in Need and the Ship Student Food Pantry located in the Spiritual Center.

And as reports of Asian hate crimes increased and the violent shooting of six Asian women in Georgia took over headlines, the campus community united to take a stand once again. During the #StopAsianHate vigil, organized by the ACT committee, freshman history major and Korean living in America, Skylar Walder welcomed the moment to share her story.

“I have lived with assumptions and jokes through my years but having the opportunity to share it was such a fulfilling experience. It was a great turn out: students, administration, faculty and staff all came out to listen from speakers and remember the lives that were lost. As a student, it was an event where I hope people learned the reality of being a minority in a not only predominately white university, but country,” said Walder.

In her February message to campus, President Carter well defined the road of change and inclusion that lays ahead at Ship.

“Excellence is not static. It is dynamic. Achieving inclusive excellence means constant reexamination of our efforts and practices. In the face of fear, frustration, and discomfort, we are asked to translate our values of inclusion and diversity

consciousness into action consistently,” she said.

Much work remains for all communities, but Ship is committed to do the work and move forward as one campus of many cultures.

“Excellence is not static. It is dynamic. Achieving inclusive excellence means constant reexamination of our efforts and practices.”

Guests at “A Quilt to Cover Us All” unveiling.

Campus celebrates International Education Week with annual flag display.

International foods served in Reisner Dining Hall.