Members of the Elon community discussed ways to report and prevent acts of discrimination and bias during a forum organized by the Student Government Association.
Dozens of Elon students offered their insights, ideas and experiences at a Thursday night forum about discrimination, and ultimately resolved to challenge themselves and the university’s administration to do everything possible to stamp out bias.
The student-led event was moderated by seniors Immanuel Bryant and Mason Sklut. Attendees were offered the opportunity to voice any concerns about acts of bias on campus and how the university should respond to such incidents.
Several administrators, including Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students Smith Jackson, Assistant Vice President for Student Life and Associate Dean of Students Jana Lynn Patterson, Assistant Dean of Students Jodean Schmiederer, Director of Inclusive Community Well-Being Leigh-Anne Royster and Interim Associate Provost for Inclusive Community Brooke Barnett attended the forum and offered answers to students’ questions. They also sought input about how students feel the university can best promote awareness of and action against discrimination.
SGA Executive President Welsford Bishopric encouraged students to actively work with university administrators to make Elon’s campus inclusive for all.
“This (issue) is a challenge for the Elon community,” he said. “And that means we need to address it as a community.”