During Fall 2022, the C.H.A.N.G.E Coalition wrote an open letter and a list of 13 demands, which included multiple proposals to work towards treating multicultural groups more fairly at Longwood.
The C.H.A.N.G.E Coalition is a Longwood University organization, which is an acronym that stands for community, humanity, allyship, networking, grace, and equity. According to C.H.A.N.G.E., their mission is to bring change and inclusiveness to Longwood. Their 13 demands, read to the SGA last fall and published in The Rotunda, called for transparency from the university, diversity, equity, and inclusion training for faculty and staff, among other points.
These demands have transitioned to include the Action Plan Agreement between Longwood and C.HA.N.G.E. This agreement, signed by President W. Taylor Reveley IV in November 2022, lists 10 objectives that the Longwood administration commits to ensuring inclusivity on campus.
According to C.H.A.N.G.E. chairperson Thai Copeland, they are currently working on three objectives that should be active by the latest spring semester of 2024. These are a Multicultural Newsletter produced and distributed by Longwood, a regular survey for underrepresented students on the campus climate, and making Lankford Hall into an intercultural center.
One of the original 13 Demands by C.H.A.N.G.E was to have an intercultural building on campus. They originally proposed Wygal Hall, but due to extended construction, Lankford was selected as the alternate option. According to Vice President of Student Affairs Cameron Patterson, Lankford Hall is being declared the intercultural center next semester.
Lankford is currently occupied by Global Engagement, Global Leaders, and International Students and the administration is looking for space elsewhere for the groups to continue meetings. Section H of the Action Plan Agreement calls for, “Training for Faculty, Staff, and Leaders of Student Organizations.” According to Copeland, Dr. Pam Tracy, director of the Center for Faculty Enrichment (CAFE), has hosted training and workshops for staff and faculty on racial sensitivity. The workshops are optional because this form of training cannot be mandated unless it is on the state or federal level.
According to Copeland, “On the reports she has given me, there have been very few engagements with the faculty and staff. That is because they’re disinterested or tired after a long day of classes. So what Dr. Tracy is trying to do now is take it to the professors as opposed to having professors come to her for the workshops.”
Patterson said that C.H.A.N.G.E. is in talks with President Reveley to get a timeline secured by the end of this semester on completing the objectives listed in the Action Plan. Regarding timelines, Copeland said, “We have asked for a timeline since this has begun and we have consistently been met with ‘Oh, timelines aren’t the most productive’ but I guarantee there was a deadline for the Joan Perry Brock Building.”
According to Copeland, the motivation from the administration on this issue dialed down after it dwindled in priority on campus. “It feels like this was only important when all of campus was looking at it. And now that C.H.A.N.G.E. is independently working to accomplish these goals there’s no foot on the gas anymore,” said Copeland.
President Reveley determined points of contact on the administration side for C.H.A.N.G.E. regarding updates to the Action Plan being completed. Copeland said, “There are a few administrative players within this that aren’t clearly as motivated as others. I know that my points of contact within C.H.A.N.G.E. are trying to get in contact with [Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Larissa Smith], and have been extremely unsuccessful when it comes down to emailing and getting a response.” While there was originally a meeting planned for the final week of November – this meeting has since been canceled – meaning Dr. Smith did not meet with C.H.A.N.G.E. at any point during the semester, according to Copeland.
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January 10, 2024 - Correction
Since the publication of this article, new information has been provided to the Rotunda by Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. Larissa Smith. The original article contained information from a source close to the situation that has since been confirmed to be incorrect.
The article originally stated that Dr. Smith did not meet with the C.H.A.N.G.E. coalition at any point during the Fall 2023 semester using information provided by the previously mentioned source. In an email to the Rotunda, Dr. Smith clarified that she met with two students from the C.H.A.N.G.E. coalition on November 6 to discuss various topics related to the hiring of diverse faculty and staff. This meeting has been confirmed by one of the students present.
The Rotunda strives to provide the most timely and accurate information possible. We regret any confusion as a result of the original article and thank Dr. Smith for her clarification.
