SELINSGROVE – Susquehanna University’s Winter Convocation is an opportunity to talk about race on campus. Dena Salerno, Assistant Dean of Intercultural and Community Engagement at SU says the campus is a microcosm of the country, “Race relations on campus really are, in a lot of ways, very similar to where they are in the national dialogue, so I don’t know that Susquehanna’s too unique. There’s a lot of work to be done.”
An anonymous letter posted on social media recently called for more racial diversity on SU’s campus. Salerno says they are addressing the topic of race head on, “In the fall, for example, we had an open forum where we encouraged students to talk about how they felt as students on campus in relation to their identities, their safety, how included they feel, how welcome they feel on campus. We began that conversation in a way that was non-judgmental and students were encouraged to express how they felt. From there, we’re going to move to action steps and plan those in the spring.”
Charlayne Hunter-Gault, noted journalist, will be the keynote speaker at the Winter Convocation January 25 at 7p.m in the Degenstein Center Theater. The public is invited to attend.
Charlayne Hunter-Gault
