'Inclusiveness' trumps 'diversity'

The President's Advisory Council on Inclusiveness, led by Chairperson Dr. Denise Askin, has decided to move away from the use of the term "diversity" and instead embrace the use of "inclusive." While the inclusiveness survey and committee were formed last year, the topic resurfaced in light of recent events between Saint Anselm and The Union Leader. Recently, the paper published an editorial attacking Saint Anselm for pursuing "diversity."

According to The Union Leader, the actions of the college "[are] going to marginalize white and straight students and ignore Catholic doctrine." Fr. Jonathan, president of the college, quickly and succinctly responded to the editorial with an Op-Ed piece of his own, defending the college with the crux of his argument being that everything at Saint Anselm is done "because we are Catholic."

Fr. Jonathan's reaction to the piece not only attempted to steer The Union Leader away from their idea of the college's mission and toward its actual mission, but also reopened the discussion about inclusiveness. The college has decided to abandon the use of the term "diversity" for reasons that are articulated by Dr. Denise Askin.

Dr. Askin believes that the word diversity is latent with baggage and is a much more cumbersome term than inclusiveness. Diversity suggests placing people side by side, and according to Dr. Askin it is, "a fact of the human condition and therefore can be defined in a variety of ways and with multiple perspectives." Inclusiveness is a better word because it speaks to the climate of the college, rather than the demographic makeup.

"Inclusiveness is all about voices," Dr. Askin says, "it is not a head count but rather a way of being."

In the minds of Dr. Askin and other administrators at Saint Anselm, there is a great difference between the terms "diverse" and "inclusive."

"Inclusiveness means all people coming to the center and participating in the center," Dr Askin said. Inclusiveness is about valuing every voice on campus and is encouraged by the expanding of the minds of the students on campus.

Diversity tends to connect with the idea of percentages and facts, while in Dr. Askin's words, "Inclusiveness is about the mind and the heart. What matters are the casual late night conversations that students have; life experiences matter and people really matter. That's inclusiveness."

Diversity is not the term Dr. Askin wants to use because it does not convey whether or not Saint Anselm is a community that is welcoming to others. "Looking around Saint Anselm, is this welcoming? Are we a place others would want to come to? Will we be able to serve them efficiently? I think we can."

Fr. Jonathan also prefers the term "inclusiveness."

"I won't use the term 'diversity' as it is too politically charged. Inclusiveness is basically about anyone feeling that this is a welcome environment."

Fr. Jonathan believes that the debate between the terms is not a political issue, but rather a mission issue, tying the idea of inclusiveness with his recent Union Leader letter.

"We have a wonderful education here at Saint Anselm and we want that for whoever comes here-we have to take care of everyone on campus."

Fr. Jonathan describes the idea of inclusiveness by the college's attentiveness to both Catholic and non-Catholic students. "Inclusiveness is not pushing anyone aside." It is the hope that all feel at home on campus and also that anyone who joins the community here will feel the same way.

Although the opinions of The Union Leader have created tensions between the paper and the Saint Anselm community, they have sparked both interesting and necessary conversations. Understanding the idea of "inclusiveness" means understanding the mission of the college; the teachings of the Catholic Church are to love all human beings as children of God.

As Father Jonathan articulates, "That we exercise basic Christian love and the notion of Benedictine hospitality (and are we all feeling this or not) is the core of who we are, not a peripheral concern.