By Mackenzie Davis
On Wednesday, April 23, the Woodrick Center for Inclusion and Multicultural Affairs held their “Conversations with Grand Rapids Community College Executive Leaders Event” which was marketed as a discussion of the college’s next steps for its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programs. Students and staff called for clarification and transparency from the college as programs they relied on are being threatened by the Dear Colleague Letter from the U.S. Department of Education.
Sent out in February, this letter from the acting assistant secretary, Craig Trainor, called for colleges to end DEI programs or lose federal funding. Students attending the event hoped to learn what was going to be changing in the Woodrick Center support programs from GRCC’s Interim President Lisa Freiburger and Provost Sheila Jones. Instead, the executive leaders of the college announced that the meeting would be focused on student opinions on the pros and cons of the Rise Up and Achieve program.
“Some of the circumstances with regards to federal policy, state policy, guidelines and part of the Woodrick Center…are as to how we continue to support all our students through the Rise Up and Achieve program,” Jones said. “We want to hear from students what you appreciate about the program and what we can continue to do in the future.”
When asked by The Collegiate, at the beginning of the 25-minute brainstorming session about the college’s further decisions on how to accommodate these DEI threats, Freiburger said that hearing the students’ voices was their priority.
“We are looking at what, if any changes, what we might need to make as we navigate this and it’s really important as we do that to hear from the student voices,” Freiburger said. “Before we start to make any changes, if they are necessary to any programming, we are really looking at and appreciate the opportunity to directly hear from students about what’s important and what we want to make sure to uplift, what we want to enhance before we do anything.”
After the breakout discussion, Freiburger and Jones then opened the floor to student comment as the Woodrick Center staff sat in the corner and the leadership team stood to listen.
“It was sort of vague as to why we were here. And all the comments being (sent) back to the Woodrick Center and, in my understanding, you guys are the ones who will have a say in the changes being made to the Woodrick Center,” A student from the crowd said. “I don’t know why you can’t just be transparent with us about that, especially when it will literally affect people’s jobs at this school.”
Another student spoke up.
“We need the direct truth. The school could say everyone is included but without programs like Brother 2 Brother, what does that really mean for me if I felt like I fit into this one area and then it gets taken away? I know I am not the only student that feels that way. What do the really broad and not transparent emails mean? There is one thing to say, and then there is one thing to take action and show me that I am in a safe space and that I belong somewhere,” the student said.
Executive leaders responded.
“I appreciate the feedback. Our goal was to really hear students’ voices before something is done,” Freiburger said. “So I get that there is a balance in that—Would it be better if we came to you with the answer and then asked for input? So I hear you, I do. We are trying really honestly to get your feedback before we make those decisions.”
Reverend Kate Van Valkenburg, Director of Ministries for United Campus Christian Fellowship, spoke up about the impacts she has heard from her students.
“Feedback on what? I work with so many queer students, they do not feel safe here, they do not feel heard, they do not feel that this is a place where they can be who they are,” Van Valkenburg said. “We need to hear about what the actual changes are so we can organize around that and advocate for that. The community members want to rally around our students who have specific identities, who we want… to know they are valued and cared for. Let’s be clear. Being clear is kind.”
Students’ sniffles could be heard around the room as they continued to share their personal testimonies of how the executive orders and vague dialogue were impacting them.
“As an immigrant, gay, having English as a second language, I know how much of a struggle it is to get to GRCC. My caucasian peers are not suffering. They are not suffering walking around campus because ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) can come and deport them. That’s the population that you want to open up the Woodrick Center. They are not struggling like us,” The student wiped his eyes as he directly addressed Freiburger. “I don’t want to blame you because I know that you are in an awful position right now. I have you in my heart. I don’t want to be in your shoes right now, but…if we let the bad do the bad things, then we are worse.”
Staff members and students wiped tears as Freiburger addressed the room.
“With that, I hear you, we hear you. We have feedback and we do appreciate it. This isn’t a one-and-done conversation as we started and ended. We don’t, right now, have all of the answers. We are going to continue to work at it,” Freiburger said. “We do appreciate feedback…we will continue to do our very best in navigating what are some very different waters that we haven’t had to deal with before and we can hopefully walk collaboratively with you.”
As the meeting came to a close, the director of the Woodrick Center, Jamillya Hardley, stood up and asked to say a few words.
(Mackenzie Davis/The Collegiate)
“So first and foremost, everyone who has shared, thank you. This has been so difficult as one who cares about this work, sees herself in this work, cares about individuals here at this institution on a completely different level…I have seen myself scratched out on stuff, I have seen you all scratched out on paper. Yes, we want to know what’s next. Yes, we want to know the real transparency, but we also have to take care of each other and that’s not happening for me,” Hardley said as her voice broke. “That’s not happening for my staff and that’s not happening for my students. Nobody knows what is going on, and the least we can do is care about each other. The least we can do is show up for each other. The least we can do is share ‘hey, I see you and you are struggling.’”
Students all listened and nodded their heads as Hardley continued.
“We have heard words about safety, representation, showing up authenticity, people being scratched out, name changes, websites being scrubbed or changed or opened up,” she said.“I am going to be real transparent and say that it’s been half of the folks who have even reached out to the Woodrick Center to see if we still even have a job. To see if I show up to work. Think about that. Think about saying ‘hey, we might not have a certain someone on this campus’ because that is happening around the world. That’s real stuff, real stuff that we are dealing with. That’s my every day. So no, this is not what I asked for this meeting to be. I asked for it to be…I asked people to be transparent and to tell our students what is going on. I don’t know how that was missed, I don’t know where the gap was, but this was not the conversation, and I would be remiss and a disservice if I did not share that. Thank you all for being here.”
Applause followed with students going up to hug the director of the Woodrick Center as the meeting adjourned.
In an email to The Collegiate after the event Hardley wrote, “You asked a question about what can I offer to inspire and inform students: It’s essential to stress that there are folks at this college who are deeply rooted and passionate about doing the hard work to ensure students not only belong but have a place to make their own at the institution. We’re here, and we are gonna show up for you! Students shared that their safe spaces on campus are subjected to being stripped away. We want them to know that regardless of what happens moving forward, we, in the Woodrick Center, will be the safe space they are looking for.”
For more information, students can go to the Woodrick Centers homepage to get in contact with staff and support programs.
