NMU celebrates cultural diversity

Graduation Ceremony for 2024 Graduates

Graduates, family and friends gather to eat a range of culturally diverse foods after the ceremony where international students and students of color received their graduation stoles and cords. (Journal photo by Alexandria Bournonville)

Introduction

On Wednesday, a ceremony and celebration were held at Northern Michigan University (NMU) to honor the 2024 graduates from diverse cultures, ethnicities, and races. This event was sponsored by several NMU diversity-focused entities, including the Student Equity and Engagement Center (SEEC), international programs, the Center for Native American Studies, and the President’s Committee on Diversity.

Objective

The objective of this celebration was to honor the diverse cultures within the student body and promote inclusivity and equity. The event featured captivating music, inspiring keynote speakers, and a delightful array of cultural foods served after the ceremony.

Land Acknowledgment

The ceremony began with a land acknowledgment by Jolene Martinez, the secretary and membership coordinator of the Native American Student Association (NASA). Martinez recognized that NMU is situated on the ancestral homelands of the Anishinaabe Three Fires Confederacy.

Importance of Higher Education for People of Color

Shelby Boggs, the vice president of NASA and a citizen of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, emphasized the significance of productive and respectful higher education for people of color, especially Indigenous peoples. Boggs expressed gratitude to the Native American Student Association and the Center for Native American Studies for guiding their journey of self-discovering cultural reclamation. They highlighted how NMU and these entities protect Indigenous students from assimilation that higher education can often breed.

Community Organizations

Crystal Guo, coleader of the Asian Student Union, and Rosalva Brito, President of the Latinx Student Union, also spoke at the event, praising the sense of community fostered by their organizations at NMU.

Keynote Speech

The keynote speaker for the night was Shawnrece Campbell, Assistant Vice President of Diversity & Inclusion. Campbell delivered an inspiring speech acknowledging the hardships that many graduates had to overcome. They commended the graduates for their resilience and dedication to their education and future. Campbell emphasized the importance of celebrating the triumphs that emerge from challenges and recognizing the diversity that enriches the university community.

Guiding Lights

Campbell concluded their speech by urging the graduates to carry forward the lessons learned during their time at NMU. They encouraged them to remember the strength they discovered within themselves, the bonds of friendship forged, and the knowledge gained. Campbell reminded the graduates that they possess the indomitable spirit and power to affect positive change as they embark on their next chapter.

Contact Information

For more information, please contact Alexandria Bournonville at 906-228-2500, ext. 506 or via email at abournonville@miningjournal.net.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

1. Goal 4: Quality Education
2. Goal 5: Gender Equality
3. Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities
4. Goal 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

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SDGs, Targets, and Indicators in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 4: Quality Education
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 4.7: By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including among others through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles.
• SDG 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion, or economic or other status.
• SDG 16.7: Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory, and representative decision-making at all levels.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator for SDG 4.7: Number of students participating in diversity-focused events and programs.
• Indicator for SDG 10.2: Number of graduates from diverse cultures, ethnicities, and races.
• Indicator for SDG 16.7: Presence of diversity-focused entities and committees within the university.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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Fuente: miningjournal.net

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