February 15, 2022

February 2022

Newsletter

IDEA Newsletter – February 2022

News

Land Acknowledgment

The November 2021 IDEA newsletter highlighted the work of the Decolonizing Scripps CIDE working group and the 2-year research and engagement process leading to the recommendation of the development and adoption of a land acknowledgment to go hand-in-hand with tangible, long-term institutional commitment. The senior team adopted the working group’s land acknowledgment recommendation on January 19, 2022, recognizing the acknowledgment is not an end in itself and must be part of a larger landscape of individual, collective, and institutional commitments. It is the hope of the senior team that this statement will serve as a resource for Scripps departments, institutes, and organizations seeking to honor Indigenous
peoples in various communications and gatherings, including events, program materials, and publications.

We would like to respectfully acknowledge that Scripps College sits within the historic homeland of the Tongva people. We acknowledge the painful history of genocide and colonization in our area. We acknowledge the strength and resilience of the Tongva people of the past, present, and future as the original caretakers of the land, water, and air, and we recognize our responsibility to be respectful stewards of the Scripps College campus. Today,
this area and this campus are home to many Indigenous people from across the globe and we are proud that they are part of our community and institution.

The land acknowledgment is featured as outlined below:
IDEA website: https://www.scrippscollege.edu/diversity/land-acknowledgment
College timeline: https://www.scrippscollege.edu/about/college-timeline
Scripps College campus: https://www.scrippscollege.edu/about/campus

Commitment to Continuous Learning

Over the years, there has been a consistent call for our community members to participate in workshops and trainings on how to identify, navigate, and address racism, xenophobia, transphobia, and other forms of discriminatory and harmful practices and actions. Scripps’ commitment to a supportive, equity-minded culture has not wavered, and building capacity takes time, persistence, and buy-in.
Last year, an increased number of opportunities to enhance the understanding of diversity, equity, inclusion, and antiracism were offered to faculty and staff. Through our membership in the Liberal Arts Colleges Racial Equity Leadership Alliance (LACRELA), more than 65 faculty and staff attended eConvenings on topics ranging from leading productive conversations about racism to confronting explicit acts of racism and racial violence on campus. Recordings and resources from the eConvenings have been made available to all faculty and staff. In addition to the LACRELA learnings, ADRE Mary Hatcher-Skeers and Assistant Dean/SCORE Director Marissiko Wheaton have engaged over 100 faculty and staff in curated diversity and inclusion workshops.

WHY DO PRONOUNS MATTER?

There is no way to know whichpronouns a person prefers simply by looking at them. Being called by the wrong pronoun can make a person feel disrespected, invalidated, or alienated. This has consequencesfor our community. More than five years ago, Scripps compiled a list of pronouns available in the student portal. The list was compiled with the assistance of the Queer Resource Center (QRC). Over the years, a number of workshops have been offered to create awareness that a person’s preferred gender pronouns may not align with society’s expectations. Reinforcing that by honoring an individual’s preferred gender pronouns is part of showing respect. The EJ Leadership team will partner again with the QRC to offer a workshop that centers on the importance of using and respecting a person’s pronouns and what allyship could look like for cis people.

PRONOUNWORKSHOP FOR FACULTY AND STAFF

March 9, 2022 1–3 p.m.
Creating a Culture of Belonging: A Focus on Gender & Pronouns
Have you heard the question, “What are your pronouns?” or seen someone introduce themselves with their pronouns, list their pronouns in their email signature, or include them next to their Zoom name? In this workshop, we’ll discuss the importance of these practices and why respecting people’s gender identities and pronouns is crucial for departments/units who are committed to inclusion and creating a culture of belonging. Lastly, through
data and personal narratives, we’ll share experiences of gender-diverse community members whose identities are beyond the binary cisgender framework.

Registration is now closed.

2022 Year of the Tiger

The Lunar New Year began February 1, 2022, bringing us into the Year of the Tiger. People around the world celebrate the Lunar New Year, a festival that marks the beginning of a new year on the traditional Chinese calendar. Jonathan H.X. Lee, a professor at San Francisco State University whose research focuses on Asian and Asian American religions and folklore, told NBC Asian America that the tiger, one of a dozen signs in the Chinese zodiac, is considered a positive sign associated with the defeat of evil. “Collectively, we have been living in the shadows of a great evil—the pandemic—and I think 2022, the Year of the Tiger, will be a year when there will be movement towards driving out that evil,” Lee said. In the Chinese zodiac, the tiger is a creature characterized by a brave, heroic, and determined spirit. May the beginning of this new year mark the start of good things to come in our community and world.

Measuring Mission-driven Aspirations: How are we Doing?

Key performance indicators (KPIs) are used to measure success and progress toward goals.The indicators are used throughout the College and by the Board of Trustees to monitor performance. The longitudinal data helps the College track trends and changes over time and focus on areas for continual improvement. So, how are we doing? Visit the following link to access the 2020–2021 KPIs.

Black Heritage Month Event

Understanding Black Joy: A Birthright & Breakthrough

On Friday, February 18 at 2 p.m. PT, SCORE will host Black Heritage Month speaker, Dr. Mei-Ling Malone. In her talk, Dr. Malone will discuss the importance of celebrating Black joy and how Black people have been undeniably resilient and joyful through every form of oppression. Black Heritage Month is celebrated every February as a collective effort to bring attention to the many contributions, achievements, and adversities of Black Americans throughout history. While the month is synonymous with prominent figures such as Harriet Tubman, Martin Luther King, Jr., Maya Angelou, and Barack Obama, we encourage our community members to commit time to learn more about the inspiring Black leaders within our community.