The Center for Diversity and Inclusion remembers its impact “Through the Years”

The Center for Diversity and Inclusion (CSDI) hosted its “Through the Years” celebration to celebrate all their centers in staff ahead of their closing in the middle of June.

The night was filled with laughter, tears and memories. Almost every seat in the Armstrong Student Center Pavilion was filled, with more than 200 attendees. There were slideshows with photos from previous CSDI events and notecards and envelopes for students to write their favorite CSDI memories.

Matthew Hall, associate director of LGBTQ+ initiatives, opened the event. He mentioned the different centers involved with the CSDI and the uncertainty for the future.

“Tonight, we are marking the legacies of the center and centers, and will likely evoke a myriad set of feelings for people in the room,” Hall said. “We will certainly expect some communal grief about the closing of the center, uncertainty about the future, and perhaps even anger about the events that brought us here tonight. However, I also want to center us where possible, in a space of joy and celebration for all that has been accomplished for the last 56 years.”

Next, Hall passed the microphone to D. Ellis Rates, the associate director for Intercultural Admissions. Rates talked about the history of the CSDI and how it got to where it is today. He said it was not until 2019 that the CSDI became the center it is today in Armstrong. Now, the CSDI serves the LGBTQ+ and intercultural community at Miami through initiatives, programming and resources.

“The staff works tirelessly to make Miami feel like home to those students who don't often see themselves when they walk into the room,” Rates said. “The CSDI is, and has always been, a place of belonging for our marginalized students, a place that feels like home and a place that reminds them ‘you belong here.’”

Rates then welcomed Jayne Brownell, the senior vice president for student life, to the stage.

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Brownell talked about the importance of the CSDI in people’s lives. She said it was always about community, the sense of family created with people who were once strangers and welcoming and supporting authenticity. She also urged the crowd to have hope for the future.

“For those of you who are current students, I understand it will not be the same. You will remember CSDI as it is forever,” Brownell said. “For students coming in, they will carve out a space for themselves and create something new, like students before them always have.”

She also said, even though the physical center itself may be closing, there will still be events and programs on campus.

“We'll still be here, advising your student boards, putting on many of the programs you come to expect, and pushing you every day to be the best students, best leaders and best versions of yourselves possible,” Brownell said. “Because we value you, care about you, and we'll do our best for you, as we do for all of our students, and I promise you that.”

Former Senior Administrative Director for the Office of Diversity Affairs at Miami University, Gerald Yearwood, also talked about the CSDI and his experience working with Miami students and the Miami community.

“But I stand here at this thing to say to each and every one of you, don't give up, hang in there,” Yearwood said. “It may be tough right now, but if you put your mind and effort to it, it can get better, and God knows, hopefully we can turn it back around.”

When he finished his speech, the crowd broke into standing applause, and multiple tears were shed. First-year psychology major Mareyhana Scurry was in the crowd. She had found friends and a mentor from the CSDI.

“I'm really sad that it's just not gonna be its own thing anymore,” Scurry said. “I think that it was really important for a lot of people to just have a space, made for them, not just for everybody.”

The CSDI offered a space for a lot of students to find a community and support system. Even if there are still events on campus, the space itself will be missed.

“You haven't seen the last of me, but you also haven't seen the last of this team,” Hall said, quoting Cher. “And you haven't seen the last of the care and concern which the CSDI has imbued in its work.”

mulforsj@miamioh.edu