The committee was joined by President Poskanzer for a productive discussion on what the “special focus on Black experiences” means for the planning process. The committee is receiving input on a wide range of issues that need improving for Carleton to be a truly inclusive community. President Poskanzer reminded the committee that a special focus on race must be at the center of the planning exercise referencing this language from the charge:
In this plan, Carleton must examine all of our policies, processes, cultural norms, and personal and institutional assumptions. We must ask whether they are rooted in racism, either consciously or inadvertently. And where needed we must change them in order to heal, strengthen, and even re-envision a fully inclusive community.
Following this discussion, the committee furthered our commitment to prioritizing race and racism — at all levels ranging from interpersonal to structural — as one of the most pressing areas for change. The IDE Steering Committee was born out of the heightened focus on race both in the national conversation and in the conversation at Carleton. Our committee’s special focus on race does not preclude us from addressing other areas of inequity that people have brought to our attention: the 10-year strategic plan is a starting point for addressing issues of IDE in our community, and this work is ongoing. As such, we will still be addressing other aspects of identity in our plan, but race will remain the primary focus.