Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion
What We Do
The Office of Student Activities is committed to providing education, awareness, and advocacy to support systemically marginalized, underrepresented, and under- or unserved student populations. Diversity, equity, and inclusion serves as an essential function for all offices, and each unit within the institution must understand its role in shaping an inclusive campus community and student success.
The Office of Student Activities, in collaboration with other campus partners such as the Student Engagement Team, Student Association committees, and the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging Team, addresses racial, gender, economic, and other social justice issues to engage the campus in social action to build and sustain an inclusive campus environment that fosters a culture of mutual respect and celebrates difference.
In addition to events, programs, and services, the Student Activities Coordinator also serves in a general advisory role as additional student support to multicultural and international student groups such as the Black Student Alliance, HC Alliance (LGBTQIA+), Multicultural Student Union, Disability Rights, Education, Activism, and Mentoring (DREAM), and more.
Diversity
Diversity at Hastings College is addressing issues of access and climate for individuals who might encounter barriers and celebrating a variety of personal experiences, values, and world-views that arise from race, ethnicity, gender identities and expressions, sexual orientation, age, religion, language, abilities, military status, citizen status, socioeconomic status, nationality, and more.
Equity
Equity at Hastings College is commitment and accountability for identifying and eliminating barriers that reinforce inequalities and privileges generated by historical and persistent intersecting differences. We will provide fair treatment, access, learning opportunities, and advancement for all students and employees. We will challenge and respond to bias, harassment, and discrimination in programs, policies, and practices.
Inclusion
Inclusion at Hastings College is cultivating a culture of respect in all learning, working, living, and social environments and communities where all individuals and groups can grow intellectually, participate inclusively, and feel welcome, supported, and valued. Hastings College is a place where differences are welcomed, included, and celebrated.
Resources
Explore the buttons below to learn more about the various resources we have provided to aid in creating a campus community of sustained support, awareness, appreciation, and advocacy.
If you have additional resources you'd like to share with us, please email alyssa.roush@hastings.edu so we can add them!
Land Acknowledgement
The name "Nebraska" is based on an Oto Indian word Nebrathka meaning "flat water" (referring to the Platte River, which is also an official symbol of Nebraska). Indigenous names can be found throughout Nebraska:
Cities: Arapahoe, Ogallala, Omaha, Pawnee City, Santee, Ponca, Macy, Winnebago.
Counties: Cheyenne, Dakota, Keya Paha, Nemaha, Otoe, Pawnee, Sioux.
According to maps of the mid-1600s, the land Hastings College resides on is the homeland of the Pâri (Pawnee) people. In the early 18th century, the Pawnee numbered more than 60,000 people; by 1873, the Pawnee population was reduced to approximately 2,400. The Pawnee have lived here for thousands of years until ceding their territory to and being removed by the U.S. government. Today, they are federally recognized as the Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma.
Today six tribes, (Omaha, Winnebago, Ponca, Iowa, Santee Sioux, and Sac and Fox), have reservations in Nebraska. We wish to recognize our obligations to this land and to the people who took care of it, as well as to the estimated 29,000 Native descendants who live in Nebraska today.
[Source: https://native-land.ca/]