“Cornell stands for civil discourse, reasoned thought, sustained discussion and constructive engagement without degrading, abusing, harassing or silencing others. Cornell is committed to act responsibly and forthrightly to maintain an environment that opens doors, opens hearts, and opens minds.”

— Cornell’s Statement on Diversity

On Oct. 30, the Africana Studies and Research Center kicked off its 40th anniversary celebration with a three hour event surrounding the origins and evolution of Africana studies. The event was celebrated with the theme of “Looking Back, Moving Forward.”

“We honor [our] legacy of diversity and inclusion and welcome all individuals, including those from groups that historically have been marginalized and previously excluded from equal access to opportunity.”

— Cornell’s Statement on Diversity

The words diversity, inclusion and multiculturalism are often used interchangeably. But what do these words really mean to our University community and how are they applied on our campus? Diversity and multiculturalism imply the inclusion of all cultures and all identities. When we talk about inclusion, we often focus on the minorities whose needs and struggles are not adequately addressed by the majority. Historically, “minority” in the United States has been synonymous with people of color.