The King’s Council Rejects Diversity Initiative Proposal 7-3
Photo Courtesy of The King’s College.
The King’s Council rejected an initiative proposed by the House of Susan B. Anthony (SBA) that called for adding specific diversity responsibilities to the job descriptions of all members of Statesmanship on Monday, Dec. 5.
The proposal was struck down 7-3 in House leadership, with only the representatives of the Houses of Clara Barton, SBA and Winston Churchill voting in favor.
“No lines were crossed, it was very respectful,” Student Body President Mattilyn Winburn said. “Everyone came out of the meeting agreeing with the merit and the principle behind the proposal and agreeing with Madi [President of SBA] that there are issues at this school and that student leaders do have a role in addressing those issues. What was disagreed upon is how to most effectively address that as student leaders.”
The proposal, as it stands, calls for the addition of responsibilities to the Statesmanship job descriptions listed on the Student Portal that “advance strategies that sustain and progress diversity initiatives” by providing long-term “innovative and strategic thought in leadership with multiple dimensions of diversity as key elements of excellence in Christian higher education,” and encouraging “the prospering of diversity through avenues under position’s influence (i.e. through events, conversation, advocacy, etc.)”
On paper, this would look like one bullet point with two sub-points being added to the job description for Statesmanship student leaders.
“The question of effectiveness and tangibility were brought up by a lot of Presidents,” Winburn said. “There was also some concern about some ambiguity in the word choice itself and some of the Presidents thought it could be a little more refined before passing it up to P-Cab [the President’s Cabinet].”
The goal, written by the President of the House of SBA, Madilyn Atcovitz, is to “ensure alignment with King’s vision to develop and retain a high-performing, diverse community that leverages an inclusive and equitable work environment to deliver a well-rounded form of higher education in a strategic institution.”
“Before I became President, I had a meeting with every girl in my House. Everyone sat down and we talked and they said, ‘I don’t feel 100 percent comfortable walking into 56 Broadway as myself,’" Atcovitz said.
“I think the goal of increasing a sense of inclusion and diversity on campus is a worthy cause and something I personally care deeply about,” said Graeme Straughn, the President of the House of C.S. Lewis. “It’s been an ongoing discussion during my time at King’s and I think discussing the proposal was a great next step toward that end.”
All 10 House Presidents and the Student Body President will meet again on Thursday, Dec. 8, to discuss the proposal further.
“What was most encouraging to me walking out of the meeting was that several Presidents verbally agreed to helping Madi come up with a more effective way to address the issues at hand over Christmas break,” Winburn said. “They said, ‘we’ll go back to the drawing board with you and figure out a way to address the tangibility and effectiveness issues.’”
“Everyone in that room was passionate about it. It just wasn’t the form in which they wanted it,” Atcovitz said.
“I ultimately rejected the proposal because I felt like the use of Scripture was inaccurate and unhelpful, and the ends were unclear,” Straughn said. “However, I voted this proposal down with the hope and expectation that another will be brought before the Council early and next semester and we can move forward together.”
The House of Clara Barton released a statement on Instagram on Wednesday, Dec. 7, in response to the proposal’s rejection.
The statement read, “The House of Clara Barton laments that the Council proposal that pushed for accountability in diversity and inclusion for the Statesmanship Institution did not pass in the conversation Monday night. We understand that the dialogue did not end there. Still, the House believes that this was the first necessary step to further King’s vision to develop and retain a high-performing, diverse community for higher education. The issue of diversity touches all of us in many different ways, and we are disappointed that it was not received in that way.”
The Barton statement concluded with a commitment to facilitate discussions surrounding the King’s Unity in Diversity statement and a call to action “for the community to engage in the culture surrounding it directly.”
“I think it was super brave for Barton to do that since I know that everyone has opinions,” Atcovitz said. “I think at the end of the day when you’re President, your obligation is to your House. If that’s how the House of Barton was feeling and if that’s what the House of Barton wanted to produce, it felt good, not because a statement was made but just to receive support in any way, shape or form whether it was publicly or privately.”
Mattie Townson is the Editor-in-Chief of the Empire State Tribune. She currently interns with Penguin Random House within the Crown and Convergent imprints.
Paige Hagy is a senior at The King’s College studying JCS. She is the City Editor at the Empire State Tribune.