A landmark week for equity and inclusion in the Supreme Court
A message from Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion José Villalba
Dear Wake Forest Community,
Last week was a particularly affirming week for members of the LGBTQ+ and immigrant communities, as well as their loved ones and allies. In the span of four days, the U.S. Supreme Court issued decisions in two landmark cases. On Monday, June 15, a majority of Justices ruled that the 1964 Civil Rights Act protects gay, lesbian, and transgender employees. And on Thursday, June 18, a majority of Justices ruled that the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program could continue.
The ramifications of these cases for employment and immigration law, respectively, will continue to be researched by legal experts and be the subject of public debate. For now, the impact on underrepresented members of our campus is positive and empowering. The recent court decisions are affirmations of Wake Forest’s non-discrimination statement, in place for many years, that declares the University will not discriminate against these groups. Our campus community will continue to emphasize the full dignity of all students, staff, and faculty. Now more than ever we elevate the voices and lived experiences of undocumented and LGBTQ+ community members.
Categories: Inside WFU, University Announcement
In Support of DACA students at Wake Forest University
The following message went out to the Wake Forest University campus community on Sept. 3:
Dear Wake Forest Students, Faculty, and Staff,
The current political climate around the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program is one of uncertainty and confusion, not only for Wake Forest students enrolled in the program, but also for their families, friends, classmates, faculty and staff. Given that climate, we cannot provide clarity about the program’s continuation or possible changes to federal policy. However, it is critically important for everyone in our campus community – and especially those worried about their safety and freedom to pursue their studies – to know that Wake Forest is here to support all our students, including those who are not U.S. citizens.
In December, President Hatch joined hundreds of other university leaders in signing a petition asking then-President-elect Trump to uphold and expand DACA. Yet, as a decision from the White House looms, the Office of Diversity and Inclusion – through our Intercultural Center, Women’s Center, and LGTBQ Center – acknowledges the anxiety and frustration associated with not knowing the impact of changes to current federal policies. Please consider our collective staff available should you need to an attentive ear or a comforting space. In addition, please remember that the University Counseling Center (117 Reynolda Hall) can provide expert and clinical confidential support, that the International Students and Scholars division (116 Reynolda) can provide up-to-date information and implications for changes to federal policies around immigration procedures and statutes, and that the Chaplain’s Office (8 Reynolda) can provide spaces that facilitate reflection and solace. Finally, consider your own personal support network of family, friends, and staff and professor allies, and how they can be affirming.
Wake Forest, like other institutions of higher education, will continue to monitor changes to DACA. We will also continue to assess progress or updates to Congressional actions, including the BRIDGE Act and the Recognizing America’s Children Act (a rewrite of the Dream Act). Ultimately, the academic and personal-social wellbeing of DACA students at Wake Forest is something we neither take lightly nor take for granted.
As President Hatch has said, we are a community that stands up for one another in the face of discrimination. We are a place committed to respecting and preserving the dignity of all people – from every nation. We are a campus that welcomes diverse people and viewpoints. Our campus is richer for our diverse population and we will continue to provide financial aid, support services, and connection to legal resources for undocumented students. You belong here and you are welcome here.
Sincerely,
José A. Villalba, Interim Chief Diversity Officer
Johnathan McElderry, Director, Intercultural Center
Angela Mazaris, Director, LGBTQ Center
Paige Meltzer, Director, The Women’s Center
Categories: Inside WFU
