“Sometimes I’m the only person of color in my classroom,” voiced a student at Monday evening’s open forum on diversity coordinated by President Thomas Hellie. “I’m tired of being made a spokesperson for my community by the professor,” she said.

Professor Dawn Graff-Haight said early in the forum, “We don’t have an agenda, we have a purpose: to listen.”

The faculty and Diversity Committee members certainly had a lot of input from attending students to listen to.

From 7:30-9:00 the lower level of Ice Auditorium was mostly filled with students in the upper section as well. Many students spoke in an open-dialogue concerning topics related to Linfield’s so-far-empty commitment to diversity.

The mission statement on Linfield College’s homepage includes the promise to, “engage thoughtful dialogue in a climate of mutual respect, and honor the rich texture of diverse cultures and varied ways of understanding.”

Although it was far overdue according to Professor Graff-Haight and many students, this first testament to that mission statement was greatly appreciated.

As President Hellie and thankful students recognized, the forum was a step in the right direction.

Professor of English Reshmi Dutt-Ballerstadt said regarding the nation’s attitude toward the importance of diversity, “what we are seeing in diversity-related issues from Missouri to Yale to Claremont-McKenna College where the Dean just resigned, and most recently as of yesterday, Amherst College is happening here at Linfield.”

A student in attendance said, “we are a liberal arts college that should provoke student thought. Sometimes Linfield can get a little too cautious of the events they put on. The way Linfield Administration screens the things we have is a little bit too sheltering for us and that is why we have these issues.”

Many concerns for a student hub came to the surface in the forum. Students voiced their want of a communal “safe” or “brave” place where open dialogue can take place and information for multicultural clubs can travel with reception.

Students also called for Administration to lead the activities and events that should be included in promoting diversity. One student said expecting multicultural programs and events to be put on by students is too much stress, and called for faculty to work with student leadership to facilitate necessary programs.

President Hellie referenced the border project in Spring 2015 that brought the lack of diverse-inclusion to campus light. In the President’s words, “It showed we have more to overcome.”

The border fence project was a brave and courageous act of speech. The creator went out on a limb to share her marginalized voice and was met with insidious illustrations of prejudice and ethnic grouping lurking on campus.

A Junior Resident Advisor said, “We spend time training our RA’s and Peer Advisors who are only here for four years so why don’t we train the faculty who is here for thirty years?”

The lack of diversity is a battle fought by faculty as well as students. Professor Dutt-Ballerstadt voiced the presence of micro-aggression and oppression that affects other faculty members of minority who don’t voice their opinions in fear of job security.

She said, “The under representation of faculty of color needs serious attention.”

This was shared earlier in the forum by a freshman student. “A lot of people underestimate the value of a professor that looks like you. All throughout high school I didn’t have a professor of color and never had a class that taught me about my history or culture.

“Having someone there who can relate with you to the struggles of being a minority and can educate you on how you can change the power structures that are prominent in society or how you can deal with the issues you face is incredibly important,” she said.

As Professor Dutt-Ballerstadt said, “The time has come in Linfield’s history that we need to appoint one or two diversity officers.”

For students both, in attendance or not, the conversation can continue and your voice can be heard by emailing the Diversity Committee at [email protected]. The committee and President Hellie both said they would try to look for more time to talk with students about these issues and address concerns.