Rohith Tsundupalli ‘24
The new Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI) Committee, composed of Student Council representatives, is responsible for representing the Form and communicating Form issues around diversity, equity, and inclusion. The committee was formed in response to several events over the past summer, including letters from students and alumni, racial protests across the country, and the “strategic plan that took place to make diversity, equity, and inclusion at Episcopal a priority,” as stated by Michael Letts, Head of Upper School.
The DEI Committee, effective since the beginning of the 2020-2021 school year, consists of one member from each of the freshman, sophomore, and junior classes. Students who are interested in running for the DEI position take part in an election process similar to other Student Council positions. Once appointed, DEI members will work alongside the Diversity and Inclusion Director, Ayinde Tate, as well as those in the Student Council.
Tate pointed out how the creation of this position has allowed students to make their voices heard when discussing the matters of marginalized groups in our society. “I think the main catalyst for this role was to have student ownership and to have someone interested and energized in DEI work.” He also reiterated that having voices, specifically regarding diversity and inclusion, is something that our school can benefit from.
Andrea Yu, a faculty advisor for Student Council, expressed her thoughts about this new position, saying, “I think this [DEI council role] allows students, especially those who may not have felt that they would want to serve in Student Council, to venture more into leadership roles. I think that this is a good opportunity to help students find their place in student leadership.” Yu also stressed that a DEI council member, in addition to the trait of leadership, should be “someone who is involved in regular Student Council activities as well as someone who has a particular eye and can advocate for diversity and inclusion in student life.” Concerning student life, Letts adds, “We just need to make DEI awareness an integral part of the student experience. We need to think about equity and inclusion as it pertains to the student experience.”
One of the main catalysts of this initiative was critical letters from alumni received this summer after racial protests which swept across the country. “There were the letters that came out last summer and it was clear that EA had to change. We had to grow, evolve, and respond to a lot of our current students’ and alumni’s feelings that this was not a diverse, included, and welcoming place for everyone. That’s not where we want to be as a community.” Yu said. “DEI means building an [inclusive] community. I would assume that our school community agrees with that.”
With reference to these statements, Tate mentioned that we should be mindful that every individual has a different racial, cultural, and sexual background. Hence, he explains that “the most needed aspect for this council is empathy. Everybody should understand that others do not have the same experiences and backgrounds, therefore being an important step we must all take in order to make this community diverse and inclusive.”
Jack Crowley ‘24 feels that the new position is unnecessary. He says, “Throughout the past years, Epicopal has strived to promote diversity in the school, whether it has been through a program or an activity. I feel the role may serve a better cause promoting diversity through a memo rather than serving a role on the counsel that could be filled with a different, more influential person.”
Still, there are several benefits. Letts expands on the importance of the new committee, saying, “I am so excited and proud that we as a community and school are taking the time to ensure that we have a place where everyone is heard, everyone is accepted, and everyone is safe.” Letts also notes that the DEI committee is just one part of a larger plan, explaining that “Over the summer, a lot of work has been done to create a strategic plan of where we want to be in not just three or four weeks but rather three or four years. We are making equity and inclusion a key component of our growth and development as a school.”
Sophia Hu ‘24 has already noticed some of the efforts the school is making. She shares that “In spirit week, the Student Council made sure that it was possible to have people of different backgrounds play in the games.” Having already been elected to serve on the DEI committee, Hu also believes that EA should be more of an open environment. “I just think that EA needs to be more of an inclusive area where everyone feels included and welcomed.”