Mason Strives for an Anti-Racism Community
Mason is home to Virginia’s largest and most diverse student body, and we rank among the most diverse universities in the nation.
That distinction wasn’t built overnight. It comes from our culture of seeing things as they are, accepting challenges, and figuring out how to get the work done.
We have a great foundation in place, but we know we can do more.
Our Anti-Racism and Inclusive Excellence Task Force, created by President Gregory Washington, is taking a hard look at the current state of diversity and inclusivity efforts at the university. It will find answers to such questions as:
- What systems, practices, or traditions of racial bias exist at Mason? How can we eradicate them?
- How can we build intentional systems and standards of anti-racism to prevent racial injustices from returning?
- What can we do to become a local, regional, and national beacon to advance anti-racism, reconciliation, and healing?
The work we do will create a strategy to incorporate change across Mason, in such areas as:
- Curriculum and Pedagogy
- Campus and Community Engagement
- University Policies and Practices
- Research
- Training and Development
We’re holding ourselves accountable because we know it’s not enough to set goals—we’re determined to meet the challenge today and in the future.
On Tuesday, February 23 at 2 p.m., there will be an Anti-Racism Inclusive Excellence (ARIE) Town Hall meeting for the Mason community to learn about the initiatives the Task Force has been engaged in over the past semester, as well as provide the opportunity for attendees to ask questions and provide feedback to better the work of the ARIE Task Force. Watch the Town Hall via GMU-TV live stream: gmutv.gmu.edu/live-broadcast
For more information about the ARIE Task Force, visit president.gmu.edu/anti-racism-task-force.
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