Highlights of Diversity Day 2023
Muted colours from the lights all around bathe Theatre 5 in an array of colours: red, blue, green, purple, yellow. These colours envelop the space in a playful and—yet—relaxed atmosphere. One half of the space functions as the stage with a large screen, five wide chairs and two low tables. The other half is a stand with enough seating for about 100 people. It’s beginning to fill up nicely. The voices of the audience, part students and part staff, merge into a hum.
Opening
At about half past eleven, the buzz of voices fades away: on stage, Amu Shrestha, Diversity Officer Campus & Community, is ready to open Diversity Day. She introduces herself and the Diversity Office and shares where her affinity for diversity and inclusion comes from. Diversity plays a big role in her life. She explains: she’s from Nepal and came to the Netherlands as a child. She lived in Germany for several years and married an Italian man. In short, diversity is a fact of everyday life.
On the big screen, Jeroen Geurts, rector of VU Amsterdam, appears. He’s at the Pride Library, a symbolic location for his stance on the matter: diversity is evident at VU Amsterdam and in the city of Amsterdam. Jeroen encourages people to enjoy the diversity around you and to welcome the differences between people—because this diversity brings more joy in your life and better results at work.
Keynote
Jeroen’s words are complemented by prof. dr. Rashmi Kusurkar. She says: the quality of education only increases when the learning environment is diverse, offers equal opportunities and is inclusive.
A learning environment is diverse, she explains, when a group in this environment—such as teachers or students—consists of people with diverse backgrounds. A learning environment offers equal opportunities, she says, when a person’s background or personal characteristics do not affect their opportunities in education. Finally, education is inclusive, she points out, when people truly feel part of the group and can make meaningful contributions within this group.
For education to be diverse, to offer equal opportunities and to be inclusive, we must start at being aware of our privilege and positioning. Rashmi asks the public to close their eyes and consider, silently: what is your privilege? In other words, in what ways do you have unequal access to important resources, such as power? And what is your positioning? In other words, what are your personal values and perspectives, and what social identities and experiences have played a role in these values and perspectives?
Rashmi says: when you are aware of the ways in which you have privileges, you give yourself the opportunity to empathise with people who don’t have these same privileges. And in doing so, you create space for diversity, equal opportunities and inclusion—and for higher quality education at VU Amsterdam.
Panel discussion
Danny Soekarnsingh, Diversity Officer Decolonisation, is next to take the stage. As the moderator, he invites today’s panellists. The panellists represent the diversity networks Black and African Diaspora (BAAD), Neurodiverse Student Association (NDSA), VU Pride, WO&MEN@VU, and Family of Academic Minds (FAM).
Together, they ponder questions such as how their networks use diversity and inclusion to engage with VU Amsterdam. And: how would these networks advice policy makers on diversity and inclusion at VU Amsterdam? Are there specific examples of policies that their networks would benefit from? The networks answer almost unanimously: give people from underrepresented groups more visibility and involve them in policy processes.
The audience also has some pointed questions. Questions such as: what are networks themselves doing to encourage diversity and inclusion between groups, to ensure that the networks don’t stay in their own bubble? And: why are networks needed for such specific target groups? Doesn’t that further encourage group formation? No, says NDSA, because only when you have a safe place where you can be yourself, can you confidently interact with other groups.
Lunch
After the formal conclusion of Diversity Day, the crowd makes their way to the Atrium. The networks stand behind their booths to chat. The booths surround a long table where lunch awaits: coffee, tea and smoothies; buns, wraps and soups; apples, bananas, oranges and tangerines. Lunch starts with a swirling queue; then students and staff carry their full plates, seeking each other out. They discuss the keynote, share thoughts on the panel discussion and brainstorm new initiatives.
Diversity Day 2024
Would you like to be there (again) next year as well? Diversity Day always takes place on the first Tuesday of October. So: block off 1 October 2024, and we will see you next year. Do you already have suggestions for the next Diversity Day? Share your ideas with the Diversity Office by emailing them at divers@vu.nl.