I’ve been overwhelmed by how many of our alumni and students refer to this beautiful campus as “home.” I’ve come to believe strongly that this sense of belonging is truly the main ingredient in the secret sauce of Bona’s.
When I first read the position profile for the presidency of St. Bonaventure, I was pleased to see that one of the required skills was that the new president has the “ability to advance the role of diversity, equity, and inclusion at the university.” I was assured through the hiring process that this was indeed an important aspect of the university strategic plan and a reflection of our own mission statement.
2024 Stole Ceremony
Before I even started at St. Bonaventure, I began to receive communication from concerned alums with fears of what they have seen in the public discourse about the misuse of “DEI” efforts. That acronym has caused quite a stir over the past couple of years in the cultural politics of our generation.
Too many times what’s called DEI has become politically one-sided and actually limits free speech and diversity of opinions. It’s sad to see because what started with good intentions has, at times, evolved into political agendas, leading to perceptions that our effort to be more inclusive, welcoming and accepting is all just another move toward intolerance.
I have been pleased to see that some institutions, organizations and businesses have begun including a fourth letter — a “B” for belonging. DEIB is the desire to create a sense of belonging that makes everyone in their community feel welcome and encourages people of all kinds to join that community.
Is there anything more Franciscan?
Our friars have encouraged me more than anyone to move forward on DEI efforts. They passionately believe that our efforts to be more inclusive are inherent in our Franciscan mission, not in opposition to it. In their eyes, Jesus and St. Francis called us to love people of all backgrounds, especially those at the margins of society.
So what do we mean at St. Bonaventure when we talk about DEIB?
I’ve talked with many students and alumni from underrepresented groups, especially those who come from nonwhite backgrounds, who have had negative experiences on campus because of the color of their skin or their ethnic background. These experiences range from horrific incidents with racist language to well-intentioned slights about who they are or assumptions about where they come from.
At St. Bonaventure, which prides itself on being a place that all people can call their second home, my heart breaks when I hear that any student feels like they “just don’t fit” because of their background or who they are as a person.
Our commitment to the work of DEI is also about preparation for the world around us. Employers often tell me that they want graduates who are comfortable engaging with people of different backgrounds who can enter a multicultural, global world ready to succeed. A great college education is one that prepares students for a diverse world and helps the world to become more equitable and inclusive.
For the sake of our students’ safety and security, we need to be very intentional and even cautious about our approach to free speech on campus.
People should be able to argue, debate and engage new ideas as long as everyone is respectful of each other and treats each other with dignity.
Understanding our collective past is also an important part of our intentional efforts to be welcoming and inclusive. At times, this can be uncomfortable, but true DEIB is about helping our students understand this history, including the good and bad of our past, and reconciling this with a brighter future.
One of the highlights of our graduation weekend the last several years has been the Multicultural Stole Ceremony, which celebrates the academic achievements of historically marginalized students. The ceremony pays tribute to family, friends, faculty and staff who have helped the graduates achieve this accomplishment. Each graduate chooses an individual(s) who has played a vital role during their time at Bonaventure to present them with their stole.
It’s a truly beautiful ceremony, reminding me that this is why we do what we do in education. Our desire to create a diverse and inclusive environment is nothing more than a commitment to our Franciscan mission and values.
We are committed to DEIB not despite, but because of our Franciscan heritage. We still have much to do at St. Bonaventure in order to create the just community that the founders of our Franciscan tradition — Francis and Clare of Assisi — desired from the beginning and we continue to strive for today.
It’s incumbent upon us all to continue to strive toward a true sense of belonging here on campus. As I tell our graduates and alumni, no matter where you are or where you’re headed on your journey, we love you and you’ll always have a home at Bona’s.
Dr. Jeff Gingerich
University President
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