A standing-room-only crowd of students, faculty, and staff came together in the Student Center on Tuesday, September 24 for the ribbon-cutting ceremony and grand opening of two new centers on the William Paterson campus, meant to serve as places where individuals of all cultures and identities are understood, included, and valued.
Photo caption: From left, SGA President Dena Janos ‘21, President Richard J. Helldobler, Zhada Stamps ‘20, Associate Professor of Special Education and Counseling LaShauna Dean, Black Student Union Executive Chairman Chance Smith ‘21, Brittany Anderson ‘19, Center for Diversity and Inclusion Director Yolany Gonell, Vice-President of Student Development Miki Cammarata, College of Science Health Associate Dean Jean Fuller-Stanley. See more photos on Facebook.
The Center for Diversity and Inclusion (located in room 214 of the Student Center) will provide students with opportunities to learn more about their personal identities, appreciate the uniqueness of others, and contribute to the creation of a more just society. The Black Cultural Center (located in room 208), which operates under its auspices, will provide space, resources, and advocacy in support of black student success. Both Centers – “two important steps forward in the history of William Paterson University and in the lives of our students,” according to President Richard J. Helldobler – were developed over the past 15 months in response to student concerns expressed in spring 2018 during an open forum on campus climate. Those concerns were underscored during numerous conversations and meetings last year.
Though many people across campus had been working on issues of diversity and inclusion, “it was apparent that without centers like these to coordinate and focus these efforts, we were not going to progress as far or as quickly as we need to when it comes to creating a more welcoming, supportive, and inclusive University for everyone,” President Helldobler told the crowd.
Subsequently, one of his first steps as president was to charge Vice President for Student Development Miki Cammarata with leading campus discussions around the formation of a multicultural center. A committee of 19 members, led by Cammarata and Associate Dean of the College of Science and Health Jean Fuller-Stanley, then spearheaded the Centers’ development and included student outreach and feedback as part of its process.
The Centers will be directed by Yolany Gonell, a higher education professional with more than 15 years of experience in leadership and vision in the areas of diversity and inclusion. According to Gonell, a big part of the Centers’ mission will be to create and encourage inter-group dialogue and learning, with empathy and acceptance as the ultimate goals.
Gonell is currently meeting with various members of the campus community, including the many student cultural clubs, to seek additional information about the types of services and programming they most want and need. With that information, and a team of student-workers, the Centers will start organizing activities and events on campus.
“I urge you not to think of this opening as the culmination of our efforts so far,” President Helldobler said. “Let’s look at this, instead, as the point at which all our good preliminary work gets put into action … the beginning of a lot more important work through innovative programming, meaningful resources, stimulating lectures, and vibrant gatherings.”
Chance Smith ‘21, executive chairman of the University’s Black Student Union, also challenged William Paterson students to think toward the future. He urged his peers – especially underclassmen who have more time on campus ahead of them – to make the Centers successful by speaking up and getting involved.
“I encourage you all to look back and see what we have helped to create, and how we helped to create it, so that in the future, you can grow and expand with the foundation we left for you,” Smith said. “As this space grows, let your imagination run wild.”
Smith was among many speakers and supporters of the Centers at Tuesday’s event, which also included Student Government Association President Dena Janos ‘21, student leader and alumna Brittany Anderson ’19, and student activist and Black Cultural Center co-founder Zhada Stamps ’20.
Stamps explained the Black Cultural Center’s logo, a bird named “Sankofa” from the Akan tribe of Ghana. The word “sankofa,” Stamps says, is translated as: It is not taboo to fetch what is at risk of being left behind. “This principle is extremely important to this Center,” she added. “The Center will house books and autobiographies on the leaders who paved the way for this to be our reality, simply because it was their dream. I urge you to research often and use the lessons that have already come before you to ensure the life of this Center.”
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