Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

TERRA & OSCAR'S PROPOSED INITIATIVES FOR DIVERSITY, EQUITY, & INCLUSION

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is across all policy areas and intertwined with every decision our administration will take. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is not just ensuring that marginalized communities are properly represented in our communities or that fairness is achieved. It means to reckon with William & Mary’s past. It means to advocate for justice for all marginalized communities. It means to deconstruct and restructure institutions so that students feel confident and equitably treated. In an academic environment, it means going above and beyond to ensure that all students are met with proper visibility for every sect of what makes them human.


We are two people that do not represent all identities on our campus. But we will listen. We will learn. We believe that working on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is only feasible if we commit ourselves to paying close attention to all students who may feel unseen, unheard, and underrepresented. We will ensure that who you are is never a hindrance and that you can be boldly yourself at William & Mary.

Committing to hosting Town Halls & Roundtables on a regular basis

We cannot work on diversity initiatives without the diverse perspectives of the people we strive to work for. Our administration promises to host town halls every semester to inform Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives across all Student Assembly committees and departments. In addition, we commit to using this valuable input to inform the administration on the needs of the student body. While the Executive Branch of Student Assembly has a department focused on Diversity Initiatives, it is the responsibility of all departments and all branches within Student Assembly to be as informed as possible of the needs of our underrepresented communities, and we commit to having those conversations with the student body.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Training: For Students, By Students

Training, Resources, and Programming. We know that any sort of training is best received when facilitated by students. We are supporters and firm believers of peer advocacy. We promise to work with campus offices such as The Center for Student Diversity and the Office of Health Promotion to develop Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion training, presentations, and resources for RSOs, made for students, by students. Likewise, we plan to amplify and provide support where required with training and programming currently provided by recognized student organizations. 

See examples of training and programming: SafeZone Training, Living Room Conversations, USC's Programs and Training

Emphasizing Community & Mutual Aid

Helping those in need. Life is unpredictable. Some students live paycheck-to-paycheck. Some students are not quite Pell-eligible, but not quite able to afford tuition without substantial financial aid. We're all in this academic journey together. As limited-income students, we understand that money cannot be taken for granted, and we must create programs that help uplift and support one another in times of crisis. 

In collaboration with the Office of Student Leadership Development and the Office of University Advancement, we propose the creation of a Student Assembly Mutual Aid Fund. Through student and alumni-led campus-wide fundraising efforts, we can aid students in their times of need for housing, medical, legal, etc., assistance. An autonomous committee within Student Assembly would spearhead, manage, and distribute resources to help students who apply for support.

See: UVA Mutual Aid, Georgetown Mutual Aid

Supporting First Generation, Limited Income Students

As FGLI students ourselves, we are eager to work with the newly-instated office of First Generation Student Engagement, and its respective Director, Joselia Souza. A new office means taking advantage of the opportunity of establishing new foundations and partnerships to better the experiences of our FGLI peers.

Creating a textbook, calculator, and general resource pass-down program. We all buy textbooks and forget about them until we move out from our college rooms. We will take steps with the Director of FGSE to ensure that FGLI students are not hindered by the high costs of academic materials through a pass-down program. We will partner with the office of FGSE and Swem Library to run donation campaigns with students and faculty as well as maintain an updated database of lightly used, donated materials for limited-income students to use.

See: Columbia FLI Partnership Library, Yale's Silliman College Textbook Library


The creation of a pre-orientation program or living learning community for FGLI students. As a x2 RA (Terra) and a x3 OA (Oscar), we know that orientation and adjusting to dorm life is a grueling experience for ALL students, but a different degree of stress is added when you are the first in your family to transition to college life. We plan to advocate for a pre-Orientation program or living-learning community for incoming FGLI students, in partnership with the STEP and FGSE offices, to help FGLI students make their first connections, discover campus resources, and make friends with peers who share similar upbringings.

See: VT's Generation One, UVA’s Hoos First Look

Including & Advocating for International Students 

Interpretation and Language Services. We propose to work with the Office of Undergraduate Admissions and the Office of STEP to establish a cohort of Student Language Interpreters, providing language assistance for admitted student events such as Day for Admitted Students, Green and Gold Days, and New Student Move-In. The art of interpretation is not just translating language—it's understanding culture, serving as a conduit, and helping clarify. To ensure student interpreters are properly trained, we will seek guidance from the Department of Modern Languages & Literatures in hosting workshops and lectures on how to conduct proper language interpretation.

We know the transition to college as a first-generation or international student is overwhelming, and the families of these students should have the opportunity to learn about our campus community when visiting. Language should never be a barrier.

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals & Temporary Protected Status. We will continue the Department of Diversity Initiatives' current work in making information from the Office of Undergraduate Admissions website accessible to speakers of other languages. In removing language barriers, we hope to continue the work in making policies regarding DACA and Temporary Protection Status more readily available to assist our international and asylum-seeking populations.

See: Interactive Portal for State Policies on Undocumented Students, Current W&M Webpage on DACA

Working towards an Inclusive Orientation

Making those first friends. We plan on working with the STEP Office, the Fall 2024 Orientation Aide Director cohort, and appropriate RSOs to organize identity-based get-togethers (FGLI, LGBTQ+, Multicultural, Religious, etc.) during the week of New Student Orientation to ensure a safe and comfortable transition for incoming freshmen and transfers. These were attempted last fall orientation, but need a little push from community-wide efforts to structure and host them efficiently. 

Sometimes, new students don’t click with their hallmates, and that’s okay. Creating avenues for marginalized students who live on and off campus to get to know other new students is imperative for transitioning to a new learning environment.

Other Initiatives

The Trans Locker Program. In collaboration with the Center for Student Diversity, we plan to strengthen and bring visibility to the Trans Locker program, supporting it by hosting clothing drives before extended university-wide breaks from campus, when students may be likely to dispense unneeded clothing.

See: CSD project provides free clothing to LGBTQ+ students


Visual Guides. Visual guides are key to ensuring information is as accessible as possible. We understand that W&M has not always delivered in the world of accessibility. This is when maps and other visual guides become of use. With the Department of Data Analytics and our proposed Undersecretary for Geographic Information and Mapping position, we hope to create a student-maintained map with information such as: