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The UC Diversity Committee is engaged in ongoing work that increases the awareness and appreciation of diversity on campus and in society at large. This blog will represent international students each week.

Thursday, February 23, 2012

History of the Utica College Diversity Committee


The Diversity Committee was established as the “Multicultural Program Committee” in 1990. After a series of incidents at Utica College, other local colleges, and in the Utica community drew attention to the divisions that still existed between members of our community based on race and ethnicity, Utica College spearheaded the first Unity March in 1989.
The initial Unity March was sponsored by the Black Student Union as an expression of racial unity, with the intention of bringing together members of the Utica College community to proactively address issues of race and ethnicity on campus and in our community. Members of local colleges, including SUNY Morrisville, Colgate University, Hamilton College, MVCC, and SUNY Tech participate as well.
One of the outcomes of the many discussions that occurred that year was the establishment of the “Multicultural Program Committee” in 1990. In 1991, the “Program” part of the Committee name was dropped, and it became the Multicultural Committee and an integral part of the governance system at Utica College. The focus of the committee also broadened to include issues of ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, abilities, etc. The name of the committee was changed to the Diversity Committee, and it continues as a College committee with membership that includes faculty, staff, and students across disciplines and offices.