DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION, AND ANTI-RACISM AT COLUMBIA

By any definition of diversity, Columbia exceeds most other colleges. But having a diverse community is more than just what is measurable with numbers—we know that creativity only thrives in spaces where people encounter and interact with radical difference. It could be race, heritage, gender identity, sexuality, socioeconomic background, or any number of other identifiers our faculty and students claim. It’s these collisions of difference that can trigger something new and spark the creative process.

We also acknowledge that the structures of social, political, and economic power in the United States were built on systemic racism. This history is part of our legacy as a nation and was built into our institutions—governmental, financial, and educational. And Columbia is not an exception.

That’s why Columbia is engaged in looking both outward and inward to equitably redistribute institutional power, establish accountability, and back up our words with our curricular and financial priorities. We invite those who join our student body to take up this work with us. No matter how much you already know, or if you’ve just begun learning, creative communities like ours (artists, performers, storytellers, communicators) will be at the forefront of translating the conversation into action.