We’re Better Together
We acknowledge and appreciate the feedback from SMTD students, faculty, and staff that was shared in the past few weeks, addressing actions that SMTD can and must take in addressing bias of all forms and, especially, racism.
SMTD’s Commitment to Act Against Racial Injustice – a statement from Dean David Gier and Assistant Dean Julio Cardona.
The School of Music, Theatre & Dance fully embraces the notion that academic and artistic excellence is inseparable from an abiding and pervasive institutional commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. The School is committed to furthering the University’s mission of ensuring that each member of our community has an equal opportunity to thrive and to take full advantage of the resources afforded by the University of Michigan.
In its quest to become the most relevant performing arts school in the world, the School of Music, Theatre & Dance is committed to the ideal of inclusion as one of its core academic and artistic pillars. We construe inclusivity in the broadest possible terms, encompassing the equitable and fair treatment of all members of our community as well as a commitment to diversity not only with respect to traditional markers such as race, ethnicity, and gender but also to diversity of thought, experience, and outlook upon the world.
OUR COMMITMENT
Diversity
We commit to increasing diversity, which is expressed in myriad forms, including race and ethnicity, gender and gender identity, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, language, culture, national origin, religious commitments, age, (dis)ability status, and political perspective.
Equity
We commit to working actively to challenge and respond to bias, harassment, and discrimination. We are committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, height, weight, or veteran status.
Inclusion
We commit to pursuing deliberate efforts to ensure that our campus is a place where differences are welcomed, different perspectives are respectfully heard and where every individual feels a sense of belonging and inclusion. We know that by building a critical mass of diverse groups on campus and creating a vibrant climate of inclusiveness, we can more effectively leverage the resources of diversity to advance our collective capabilities.
