Diversity and Inclusion

My heart is heavy as I write this.

Fellow Mavericks, 

At the time of this writing, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson is enduring the confirmation process of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee to validate her qualifications to serve as a Supreme Court Justice. I use the verb “enduring” deliberately, because this is no ordinary job interview. 

I had an interesting and spirited conversation with someone who vehemently disagreed with having a Black Student Union at Medaille, because we already have a Multicultural Club. 

On August 6, 2019, my wife, Dianna, experienced a mini stroke, sustained over 21 seizures and spent four days in the intensive care unit. During her stay in ICU, every other patient in the unit died. There I sat by her bedside, wondering if she would make it. 

A professor once told a story about a conversation he had as a youth with his cousin. The closing phrase of the story has always stayed with me, because as the cousin was trying to explain a situation, he ended by stating, “Well it is exactly the same, only completely different.” 

Recently, I was listening to a podcast from Dr. Dominic Rollins, a noted diversity, equity and inclusion speaker, facilitator and consultant. During the broadcast, he made a statement that struck me profoundly. 

He said, “We don’t get through our shared humanity without redress of things that are heavy and hard.” Let me explain why I was so moved by Rollins’ words.