therunneronline.com California State University, Bakersfield
March 10, 2021
Vol. 46, No. 12
CSUB aims new focus on inclusion Committee will address diversity, equity By Rosa Salazar Assistant News Editor Despite its name, the Campus Climate Committee at CSU Bakersfield has nothing to do with the weather. Jaime Duran Jr., director of Graduate Students, said he understands the committee’s name can be confusing. “The words ‘campus climate’ refer to the campus culture that arises from the attitudes, behaviors, and decision-making standards that are prevalent throughout the university. The work ahead of us, and for every member of the CSUB Roadrunner family, is to learn how to conduct ourselves in ways that make our care and respect for each other self-evident,” Duran said. Duran also said that the committee’s focus is on “promoting diversity, inclusivity, and equity.”
Claudia Catota, chief diversity officer at CSUB and the committee facilitator, said she believes that inclusion and diversity are very important to the CSUB campus for various reasons. “We have such a diverse student population, especially in the county that we serve,” she said. “It’s important that individuals feel like they belong at a university, that they have a voice [in] their education, that they feel like they are being respected [whether] they go to school here or if they work here.” “In order to create an inclusive climate we need to be aware of who our students [and] who [our] faculty and staff are so we can make sure we have a respectful university and we can engage with each other with respect,” Catota continued. Catota said the committee was established in No-
vember 2020 and includes mostly staff, as well two faculty members and two students at CSUB. Members of the committee include student representatives from the Associated Students Inc. and faculty members from different departments in the university. Catota said that the committee is currently working on a University Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan to see what they can do to create a more inclusive climate for the students, faculty and staff. Catota said right now the committee is in the learning stages of implementing the action plan. They are looking at data and focusing on what is going on around the campus. “Once we collect the information, we’ll be having an open forum in the fall of this year,” Catota said. Catota said the forum
Source: CSUB Fast Facts
“would be a great opportunity for students to come and voice their concerns.” The open forum will be announced at a later date. As for funding, Catota said they do not have any outside funding besides the Division of Equity, Inclusion and Compli-
Graphic by Rosa Salazar
ance at CSUB, but hopes to receive funding with the implementation of the action plan. Duran said if students have any thoughts about how the committee can make the university more responsive to the needs of diverse communities, they
are highly encouraged to contact him via email at asi-graduatedirector@csub. edu or any other member of the committee. The Campus Climate Committee website can be found at csub.edu/equity-inclusion-compliance.
Homecoming winners inspire motivation By Kaleigh Day Features Writer During any other year, homecoming court candidates would don formal dresses and suits. They would anxiously await results while listening to the roar of fellow classmates sitting elbow-to-elbow in the Icardo Center at halftime. Once the announcement was made, they could turn to one another and hug or even shake hands in a show of congratulations or consolation. However, this is not any other year. On Feb. 27, the candidates tuned into a Zoom meeting from the comfort of their living rooms gathered with family members. Although this
year is out of the ordinary, candidates proved that CSU Bakersfield students did not need a ceremony to celebrate. During homecoming week, CSUB hosted several virtual events such as a Spirit Gear competition via Instagram, Paint Night through Zoom, and a meet and greet with homecoming court on Feb. 22. Present at the meeting was Thomas Wallace, vice president of Student Affairs, who took a moment to applaud the students’ school spirit. “I call you Generation E and that “E” is for ‘excelling’. You are excelling in spite of all the things you are facing in this time. I congratulate you and give you a standing ovation,”
Swim pg. 6
Heidy Lomeli served as the philanthropy chairwoman of Gamma Phi Beta, president of CSUB’s Panhellenic Council, and ASI’s director of social media marketing. Not only have they achieved great success, they have done so in the face of obstacles: both candidates are transfer students, women of color, and working mothers. Lomeli reflected on her experience, stating that the honor of being voted in was quite humbling. She hopes that she can be an inspiration to future students. “We have fought so hard for inclusion and diversity on campus at CSUB. So, to me this means everything. It means that I have
facebook.com/runnercsub
opened up a door for future women of color, for future mothers, and for future transfer students who perhaps don’t believe that they too can represent our Roadrunners,” said Lomeli. For Beed, who was a part of the junior court last year, this campaign proved to be much more personal than she anticipated. She noted that virtual platforms allowed room for authenticity. “It was easier for us virtually to kind of peel back the layers and see who we really are. When you do that it’s amazing to see how many similarities we have and how much bonds us together,” said Beed. To those who may consider running in the com-
ing years, the pair gave some words of wisdom. “Live in the moment and learn to embrace every moment, because you don’t want to have any regrets,” said Beed. “Be bold, be brave, and be beautiful internally. You radiate passion when you take initiative, and you can inspire others to believe in themselves,” said Lomeli. CSUB’s 2021 homecoming court winners are as follows: (Freshmen) Gloriann Aninion and Reilly Babcock, (Sophomores) Melinda Garza and Amritpal Kaur, (Juniors) Ginger Laynes Mendez and Myah Salinas, (Seniors) Aaliyah Beed and Heidy Lomeli, (Antelope Valley) Joyce Daniels and Jonathan Montgomery.
@therunner_csub
Pg. 6
@csub_runner
said Wallace. Not only did this year’s court excel, they broke down barriers. A year after CSUB’s move to eliminate gendered court designations and two years after the first female homecoming king was crowned, the Bakersfield main campus presented its first all-female roster, while female candidates held the majority at Antelope Valley. Senior royalty highlighted the work ethic and diversity that CSUB seeks to nurture. Aaliyah Beed acted as member of CSU Bakersfield’s cheer team, ASI’s director of community outreach, and assists incoming students in the Transfer Center.