Diversity and Inclusive Excellence at Tulane

Janet Mock and Alexis De Veaux

 Recently, Janet Mock, host of MSNBC’s So POPular, came to speak at Tulane. A black trans woman known for her cultural insight and vocal activism for the trans community, Mock was welcomed to campus in the midst of an inspiring, ongoing cultural shift at Tulane; driven by the work of impassioned student organizers, the university has declaratively set out to improve its practices regarding diversity and inclusivity on campus and its student body is following suit. Mock’s conversation with Alexis De Veaux was an example of this change.  As part of an annual series of events, known as Audre Lorde Days (named after the famous Black, feminist, lesbian scholar), Mock’s visit aimed to be yet another way students could celebrate the myriad of intersectional identities you will find not just on Tulane’s campus but around the world! 

Dillon rocking some Mardi Gras beads
after the Thoth parade.

Dillon Pérez is a Latino-Jewish student who chairs the Multicultural Council (MCC) and provides an extra voice for Tulane’s students of color. Here is Dillon's perspective:    

Before coming to Tulane, I had always lived in a place where Latinos were in the majority. Growing up between Queens, NY and South Florida, my Ecuadorian roots were accentuated each and every day by the Spanish I spoke with my friends and the cumbia music I heard blasting from the streets. At Tulane, I quickly learned that this was not the case, and when I first came here, the predominantly white student body proved to be a major culture shock for me. I feared not finding a niche for myself, meeting others like me, or enjoying as much out of college as my peers who went to schools closer to home. That is, I had these fears until I was acquainted with the O and the Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA)! 

There are simply not enough words to describe how special, active, and supportive the community of students of color is at Tulane University, and the O is its epicenter. Founded 30 years ago by a woman who has become a dear mentor to us all, Ms. Carolyn Barber-Pierre, the O and its related offices (the Office of Gender and Sexual Diversity, the Office of Multicultural Affairs, and the Office of Religious Life) have been at the forefront of cultural and institutional change on Tulane’s campus. 

The O provides a space for all Tulanians to feel welcomed and accepted for their respective, unique identities; however, it also provides a collaborative and innovative space, where students from underrepresented backgrounds can come together to discuss solutions to pressing issues on campus and around the world!  

If you are interested in learning more about multicultural life at Tulane, then know that it is incredibly easy to get involved! I would highly suggest the following programs the MCC and the OMA put on each year for any incoming freshman:

Multicultural Organizations at the Activities Expo:
Every year, there is a Fall Activities Expo during the first two weeks of school, showing off all of the 200+ student organizations Tulane has to offer! Be sure to take the time to say hello to all of the multicultural organizations that will be there: Black Student Union (tBSU), Muslim Students Association (MSA), GENTE (the Latino collective), Tulane Vietnamese Association (TUVA), Tulane Chinese Students and Scholars Association (TCSSA), Indian Association of Tulane University (IATU), Asian-American Student Union (AASU), Men of Color (MOC), and Students Organizing Against Racism (SOAR)!

Multicultural Orientation:

Beach party at The O’s Fall Multicultural Retreat

The O’s annual orientation for first-year students includes a parent meeting, student meeting, and massive reception, informing incoming freshmen of issues related to diversity and inclusivity on campus while helping students from minority backgrounds meet each other to build a cohesive community.  If not for nothing, there will be tons of delicious, free food! 

The O’s Ambassador Peer Mentorship Program:
One of the roles I am proudest to fill at Tulane is that I am one member of an army of Student Ambassadors for the O. This means I have the privilege of being a mentor to incoming students, an organizer for the O’s events, and a primary communicator for issues relating to diversity and inclusive excellence at Tulane. As incoming freshmen, you should definitely sign up for mentors yourselves! The O works hard to best match mentees to mentors who share their interests, backgrounds, and future prospects. Even more, mentees and their mentors do not just meet up throughout the year, but they also go together to some awesome, free events put on by the O every semester! This year alone, participants in the program went water rafting, went to a concert and had a blast at Sector 6 (the World's Largest indoor trampoline park)! 

Fall Multicultural Leadership Retreat:
Every September, the O hosts a Leadership Retreat in Biloxi, Mississippi, which is essentially a weekend of meeting amazing people, eating a whole bunch of food, participating in fun team-building activities, and exploring poignant ideas about our intersecting identities, issues, and politics. I am so obsessed with this retreat that I participate in it every year! However, the majority of attendees are always incoming freshmen, and this free weekend away is truly a life-changing, unforgettable event!

Students and staff at the Fall Retreat

It is important to know that Tulane is still far from the ideal when it comes to being a fully inclusive environment for students of color; however, there has quite possibly never been a university so dedicated to improving that aspect of itself! Just this past year, due to the tireless organizing efforts of multicultural organizations like our Black Student Union and Students Organizing Against Racism, Tulane’s President Michael Fitts initiated the Commission on Race and Tulane Values, a presidential commission set up to find solutions to many of the issues being raised by students of color on this campus. I am a proud member of the Commission’s Admissions Committee, so I am beyond excited to welcome y’all to the Green Wave community!

Shehan rocking a "Love Wins" shirt
outside the US Supreme Court

Shehan McFadden is a queer student who chairs the Gender and Sexuality Advisory Council (GSAC) and acts as a representative for LGBTQ+ students on campus. Here is Shehan's perspective:

I decided before I started college that I wouldn’t live in the closet. I decided that I would be out, and I would be proud. This was not an easy decision to make, but the resources at Tulane made it possible. Upon arriving at Tulane, I was soon introduced to the O and the Office of Gender and Sexual Diversity (OGSD), headed by the amazing Dr. Red Tremmel, through an annual welcome party called BBQueer. I learned about the Gender and Sexuality Advisory Council (GSAC) and the organizations that create spaces for LGBTQ+ students on campus. In my two years here, I have seen some incredible progress led by both students and members of the O. 

This fall, Tulane rolled out a system that allowed students to enter their preferred names and pronouns into the main database which was then fed to class rosters, the advising center, and more. Housing and Residence Life introduced a new system for the upcoming room selection season that makes choosing Gender-Inclusive Housing simpler and more accessible to all students. Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) created a support group for gender variant students called SPECTRUM. All of the single stall bathrooms in the Lavin-Bernick Center (LBC) for University Life are now gender neutral. 

These advancements are thanks, in no small part, to the tireless work of student activists who made their needs and voices heard. Things are still not perfect, but student activists (as well as administrators and staff) are working towards making this campus the most inclusive it can be for LGBTQ+ students. We are organizing to ensure that all students, regardless of gender and gender expression, can use the restroom safely in all the buildings on campus. We are trying to create a climate on campus in which all students feel safe and supported in their dorms, regardless of whether or not they choose Gender-Inclusive Housing.

All of this may seem overwhelming when you are just entering this school, but it’s actually really easy to get connected to the incredible resources that we have on campus; all you have to do is show up. Here are some awesome programs that the O, OGSD, and GSAC organizations put on every year:  

The O Orientation during Move-In Week:

Students tabling at the Fall Activities Expo

Every year, members of the O put on an orientation for underrepresented students to learn about all the university has to offer when it comes to diversity and inclusivity. You will be introduced to all sorts of different resources that we have available and get to enjoy free food afterward.

BBQueer/the OGSD Welcome Party:
In the first few weeks of classes, OGSD organizes a Welcome (Back) Party for LGBTQ+ students so that we can unwind after the start of stressful classes and meet other amazing LGBTQ+ students. We hang out, talk (or vent) about our summers, and see old (or make new) friends over free food.

GSAC Organizations at the Activities Fair:
GSAC Organizations are always ready to meet and mingle! You should come and find us at the Activities Fair that the Student Organizations Center puts on every year. At the Activities Fair, you can meet representatives from the Gender Exploration Society (GES), the Queer Student Alliance (QSA), the Queer Feminist Collective (QFC), and Gamma Rho Lambda (GRL; one of the two multicultural and LGBTQ+ inclusive sororities on campus). Come and see all that we have to offer!

OGSD Open Houses:
OGSD organizes what we call Coffee and Cake, where both new and returning students can mingle and eat free food (can you tell that we’re jazzed about free food?).

Beach party at the Fall Retreat!

The O’s Fall Multicultural Leadership Retreat:
This retreat, always in the first few weeks of school, is a great way to get involved with the O and meet some awesome student leaders. Come hang out with us, learn important leadership skills, and eat early breakfasts before yoga on the beach. It’s in Biloxi, Mississippi just across the street from the beach, and if you don’t think we take full advantage of that, you are definitely underestimating us.







GSAC organizations are great places for LGBTQ+ students to meet others and socialize; these organizations do everything from planning fun movie nights to organizing insightful lectures by leading scholars and activists.  For more information, please see our website here or stop in at the O any time you are in town! We are so excited to meet all of y’all and create a space for you to feel comfortable and loved!

Women's Ultimate Frisbee - Phoebe Coughlin

            On of my most favorite things I am involved in is being on the Women’s Club Ultimate Frisbee Team! Our frisbee team is called the Muses, after the all women’s parade during Mardi Gras; we love attending the parade every year as a team. Our men’s team is called Rex, after another Mardi Gras parade. There about thirty women on the team, most of which never played frisbee before coming to Tulane. The team is very tight knit and it is great to have such an awesome and supportive group of friends! Everyone is welcome to join at the beginning of the year not matter what their skill level is. I grew up playing soccer my whole life but had never played frisbee before coming to college and now it is absolutely one of my favorite things to do!

            One of the best things about playing frisbee at Tulane is going to frisbee tournaments! We attend about eight tournaments a year all over the Gulf South. We leave New Orleans on Friday afternoon after finishing up classes and return on Sunday night after a full two days of frisbee. This weekend we are headed to the “Tally Classic” tournament at Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida! We have been to tournaments at Vanderbilt University, University of Alabama and University of North Texas to name a few! We play other college teams from all over the Gulf South and the country.  Often times teams from the northeast and Midwest come to tournaments in the South where it is frisbee weather year round! It really fun to meet people from all over the country who share a common bond, they love playing frisbee!

            At Tulane we have over thirty club sports, everything from ice hockey to crew to soccer to equestrian and quidditch. They are a great way to get involved, stay active and make awesome friends! To learn more about club sports at Tulane please check out the link below!

http://www.reilycenter.com/index.php/clubsports/club-sports-directory/

Be In That Number!

Community Service, Service Learning, and Advocacy at Tulane

As one of few universities that requires all students to complete serving learning before they graduate, it may come as no surprise that community service is a huge aspect of many Tulane students lives.

Aside from the Community Service Fellowship scholarship program and the two-tiered service-learning graduation requirement, there are many ways that Tulane students get involved with community service and/or advocacy based work on or off campus!

Swim 4 Success volunteers teach water safety skills and basic swimming
skills to local children at the Reily Recreation Center.

One of the main ways current students get involved is by joining one of nearly 50 organizations that fall under the Community Action Council of Tulane University Students (CACTUS). The CACTUS umbrella is a student-run resource council within the Undergraduate Student Government (USG). We receive funding and support from the university to provide transportation, logistical support, and other useful resources for our organizations to complete daily, weekly, and monthly service opportunities.

CACTUS organizations are divided into five affinity groups that work together to co-program, share ideas, plan events, and work with non-profits, governmental organizations, and other community partners around the New Orleans area. We have organizations working with and for youth in the city, health-related organizations, global service programs, serving to improve Tulane, and providing community support.

If you don’t see something on our list of active organizations, you can start one while you are here! All we ask is that you find 10 other current students that are also interested in being a member of the organization and a faculty or staff advisor! 

Tulane's first and only service dog program, TUSTEP, aims to raise and
train disability assistance dogs for Canine Companions for Independence. 

CACTUS has seen tremendous growth through the years, adding numerous projects and inspiring thousands of students to volunteer.

One of the most well known service initiatives on campus is the Outreach Tulane Day of Service. Outreach Tulane is a student-run university-wide day of service that provides ~1,000 students the opportunity to volunteer at dozens of locations around the city. It occurs on the first Saturday of each school year, welcoming students back to campus each Fall.

Check out the videos below to see what else the Tulane Center for Public Service and CACTUS do to support the local community!

What will you do to be in that number?

 

No Greenie Left Behind - Sam Patel

       Like pretty much every other college student, I was excited for my study abroad program in Copenhagen, Denmark, and of course ended up having an amazing experience.  Unlike most students, I spent the last week of my abroad program in a Danish hospital after fracturing my ankle in three places.  However, as a student at Tulane, I was in a unique position with an outstanding crew of professors, staff members, and friends that quite literally helped me to get back on my feet again.   

          

Taking a hands-on approach to learning about the Danish health care system 

               On the bright side, my injury came towards the end of my four-week summer program in Copenhagen, Denmark.  Tulane has several great summer programs that let you to take two classes with a Tulane professor while abroad.  I was taking an introductory neuroscience course and an animal behavior course, and had awesome time exploring Copenhagen and eating pickled herring for the first three weeks.  When I got hurt, I ended up having to go to the ER and waiting to have surgery for about twelve hours.  I was really lucky to have made some great friends on the program that stayed with me in the hospital, and then continued to come back and visit me throughout the week as I recovered.  One of my friends even switched her flight so she could help me get through the airport on my flight back to Chicago!  The three professors on my program came to visit me in the hospital too—even the dean of students, Dean James Maclaren, came to see me, despite the fact that I wasn’t a student in either of his classes.  My constant stream of visitors kept my spirits up.  It was a strange, challenging experience to be stuck in a foreign hospital for about a week, not to mention being pretty much immobile, but the great group of people on my program made it the absolute best that it could be.

            Because I was unable to take my final exams, my professors gave me a huge extension on my last week of work in my two courses.  I was able to take my animal behavior final online a few weeks later, once I was back home in Chicago and had been able to recuperate a bit.  For the neuroscience class, because I had missed some lectures, my professor, Dr. Beth Wee, and I met up in the fall when I had returned to school.  She took time out of her jam-packed schedule and met with me numerous times to teach me all of the material that I had missed, and then let me take the exam as soon as I was ready.  This wasn’t really a surprise though, as Dr. Wee is pretty well-known on campus for constantly going the extra mile for her students.   Both my professors were so accommodating and went out of their way to be helpful, giving me all the time I needed until I was ready to actually finish everything.  They also continued to check on me throughout the semester as I recovered.

            My freshman year, I participated in an experience before classes started called the NOLA Experience.  On this program, first-year students get a chance to come to Tulane a week early and do fun activities to get to know the city.  It was one of my favorite parts of my first year, and I continued to participate in the program as a student leader, or an ‘OC’, my sophomore and junior year.  This experience has since grown into the Explore program, offering programs with a variety of themed experience for freshman spanning everything from food to sports to journalism.  For my senior year, I was especially pumped to participate as an OC in a newer program called Greenie Camp, named after a former Tulane mascot.  In early July, I had returned home from Denmark and had a second surgery a week later.  I was set to be on crutches for a good few months.  I knew that this would affect my participation in Greenie Camp, and I was crushed.  Beyond that, I didn’t know how I would make it through the semester on crutches.  With a heavy heart, I wrote an email to my staff leaders, Jered Bocage and Peter Young, who work in the Alumni House.  I explained to them my situation, and I told them that I hoped I could participate in the program, but I could understand how my participation might be more of a hindrance than a help.  Realistically, I couldn’t imagine how they would want to deal with me being on crutches as we headed to an off-campus retreat center and traipsed around New Orleans for a week.  I sent off the email, expecting that my days as a Greenie Camp OC would be over before they had even started.

My Greenie camp buds wheeling me around the French Quarter

          The next day, I had gotten an email back from Jered.  As I read his email, I realized how lucky I am to be at Tulane and to have so many wonderful people in my life at school.  I couldn’t keep the grin off my face as I relayed the email to my mom.  Jered acknowledged all my concerns but quite simply and firmly told me they had a strict policy: “No Greenie left behind.”  He told me to come back as planned, and they would do whatever they could to help me participate in the program, while also planning to be flexible in case I was doing too much.  Feeling optimistic again, I crutched off to Tulane to start my senior year.  

            Once I arrived on campus, it truly hit me how difficult my semester would be.  At home, I had my parents and siblings to help me with everything—getting up and down stairs, helping me make my meals, driving me places.  I was worried about how I was going to get through the semester.  It turned out that I had nothing to worry about.  I was so fortunate to be part of a group of ten OC’s—a stellar group of student leaders picked to lead the program.  I was soon blown away by how much they were willing to do for me.  My friends came through for me in an incredible way.  We went on an overnight retreat on the program, and I was worried about having to crutch all over a camp center—my friends pushed me in a wheelchair all over the camp so that I could get to all of the activities.  Admissions counselors Morgan England and Jeff Schiffman were also staff leaders on the program, and helped take care of me as well.  Morgan would zip around the city in her tiny smart car with me in the passenger seat to transport me to places like Café du Monde.  As the week continued, I grew more and more appreciative of all these amazing people.  When the program was over and we jumped into classes and extracurriculars starting, I was still able to rely on their help, along with some assistance from other friends.

            I live off-campus, about a ten-minute walk, but there was no way I could crutch to campus and all of my classes.  Luckily, Tulane has an Office of Disability Services (ODS), which was kind enough to provide me with some short-term help.  For the first few months of the semester, my friends would laugh as they witnessed me getting chauffeured around campus on a golf cart.  I also had many friends that volunteered to drive me to and from campus for my classes and for various extracurricular meetings.  Every once in a while I would get into a tough spot and need a quick ride, and there was always a friend willing to drop what they were doing to come and get me.  I never could have gotten through this semester without them.

            Even though having a broken ankle and being stuck on crutches for three and a half months was not the way I wanted to start my senior year, I honestly feel extremely blessed.  I have so many amazing friends that came through for me during this rough time.  People were willing to drop what they were doing to come and pick me up, essentially chauffeur me around, and take me to dinner and other fun activities so that I wasn’t just stuck in my house all semester.  I absolutely, positively could not have made it through this semester if it had not been for a really special group of friends, faculty, and staff members that went above and beyond without a second thought.  My parents were worried about letting me go off to school with such a big injury, but they were so impressed by how much others were willing to do for me.  If I had been anywhere else, I don’t think I would have had professors that were willing to do whatever it took for me to make up my work, staff members that bent over backwards to accommodate me, and friends that were there for me every single step of the way.  But like Jered said, no Greenie left behind.  Tulane is a really special place, and this semester, hard as it was, also served as a great reminder of how amazing Tulane, and the people here, are.  So moral of the story—try not to trip down the stairs when you are studying abroad, but if you do get hurt, Tulane will be there for you.

By Sam Patel