Inclusion, Belonging, and Social Equity
President’s MessageThroughout my career, I have been a champion of human rights, a stalwart supporter of equal opportunity to education, and a bulwark against all forms of discrimination. My door is always open to discuss new ways each of us in the community can hold each other accountable for creating a sense of belonging and inclusion on campus and beyond. Please explore the Office of Equity and Inclusion webpage and links for resources and information on how we can continue to grow, together, as "One Campus, Many Cultures." Dr. Charles Patterson |
The Office of Inclusion, Belonging, and Social Equity assists the university in ensuring equal opportunity and access to educational, employment, and contract opportunities for all persons including students, faculty, staff, and administrators. The university will make every effort to provide these opportunities to all persons regardless of race, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, disability, or veteran status. This applies to all members of the university community, all applicants for admission or employment and all participants in university-sponsored activities.
Land Acknowledgement
We are located on Susquehannock land, land that originally belonged to the Seneca-Cayuga Nation . We remain committed to working alongside their elders and youth to restore the sovereignty of all Indigenous and First Nation peoples
What is a Land Acknowledgment Statement? A Land Acknowledgment is a formal statement that recognizes and respects Indigenous Peoples as traditional occupants of this land and the enduring relationship that exists between Indigenous Peoples and their traditional territories.
Why does Shippensburg University acknowledge the land? To recognize the land is an expression of gratitude and appreciation to those whose territory you reside on, and a way of honoring the Indigenous people who cared for our land prior to and through European colonialism. Land acknowledgments do not exist in a past tense, or historical context: colonialism is a current ongoing process, and we need to build our mindfulness of our present participation. It is worth stating that acknowledging the land is Indigenous protocol.
Events
Celebrating Diversity Week
Find out all the information you need about our diversity and inclusion-related programs and events. Join the vibrant and ever-evolving student organizations and groups on campus, and find out about the myriad ways in which this Ship sails.
View This Month's
Diversity Calendar
Request a Courageous Conversation on Race
Contact us at socialequity@ship.edu
One World, One Human Race
We are all in this together, we have one Earth and one life. We have more in common as individuals than identities that separate us. How do we at Ship make the connection to our fellow brothers and sisters who are Raiders, who are on similar life journeys, who seek to know and to be known? One way to discover our common humanity is through philosophy, literature and art. Please explore the following resources to remind ourselves that we are all one, human race. Let us try to love our fellow man.
Teaching about Race, Ethnicity, and Inclusion Resources
Shippensburg University is committed to creating an atmosphere of equality, free of all forms of discrimination and harassment. We will help you find resources for diversity and belonging education and teaching as well as reporting information.
| Responding to Incidents that Disrupt the Inclusive Community |
Free Speech
The remedy for speech that is false, is speech that is true. This is the ordinary course in a free society. The response to the unreasoned is the rational; to the uninformed, the enlightened; to the straight-out lie, the simple truth. The theory of our Constitution is that the best test of truth is the power of thought . . .” (US v. Alvarez, 2012) (federal law punishing liar who claimed he was awarded Congressional Medal of Honor invalidated under the First Amendment). More Free speech information
Diversability
"There is no greater disability in society than the inability to see a person as more." -Robert M. Hensel. “Disability Pride has been defined as accepting and honoring each person's uniqueness and seeing it as a natural and beautiful part of human diversity. Disability Pride is an integral part of movement building, and a direct challenge of systemic ableism and stigmatizing definitions of disability.” Diversability Information
