I hope 2020 has started well for everyone! There is something about starting a new year. A determination to use another opportunity for a fresh start, a conviction that if only we did more, took better care of ourselves and others, the world could be a better place. At least it is how I start a new year even if some degree of pessimism begins to set in fairly quickly.

By Pushpa Iyer with Jason Buchanan

Thanks to all who took the time to complete our poll on self-care in the interactive section “Reflection and Response” in Issue 6. We always learn from reading your thoughtful comments and are always excited with the resulting discussion it generates amongst members of our community. 

This time we hear about the work of the Student Council Health and Wellness Committee and India Day celebrations.

This section presents personal stories and experiences of some of our community members. In this issue, we highlight Salim Martell, Daniet Moges, Scott Webb, and Maha Baimyrzaeva.

Allies at MIIS has had a good run since its inception in spring 2016. My goal when starting this initiative was to build a grounds-up collaborative to secure administrative commitment for  DEI issues on our campus.

So you want to work on/in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion?

By Pushpa Iyer

The subject and practice of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) especially in higher education, is a priority today; rightfully so, given that racism, white nationalism, and white supremacy are so visible and prevalent everyday in communities and institutions.

Think of the array of student groups active on campus. What role do they play? Are they merely for student enjoyment? Do they contribute to a sense of community? Can they help us build skills and gain leadership opportunities?

News coming out of other higher education institutions is interesting for our work on diversity, equity, and inclusion. We are thinking about Harvard’s use of pronoun stickers to promote gender inclusion and the impacts of the coronavirus.

We recommend a film and series on Netflix this time. If you have any suggestions for any books, movies, TV shows, etc. that you would like to recommend, feel free to let us know!