Inclusivity in On-Campus Acapella

Written by: Kiara Tynan| Designed by: Shelby Mitchell | Photographed by: Chika Okoye

BU Acapella Groups Address Rising Concerns on Diversity and Inclusion

As the nation develops in its awareness of diversity and inclusion, this concern has spread to all corners, including spaces as niche as Boston University’s own acapella community. Various acapella groups on campus have been forced to reckon with their own issues of biases affecting their members, who have reported experiences of judgement during auditions based on appearance and race, in addition to various other exclusionary practices. In response to growing concerns, twelve groups pledged to dedicate themselves to new diversity efforts in a Diversity Statement issued this past spring. The declaration opens, “The Boston University A Cappella Community aims to create a safe space for all singers and musicians in the BU community, regardless of race, sexuality, socioeconomic status, political affiliation, ability, ethnicity, religion, or gender identity.” The statement dictated various resolutions they intend to commit to, as early as preliminary auditions to throughout their time as members. These pledges include the implementation of blind auditions in preliminary auditions to “eliminate implicit bias”, making space for auditionees to express their pronouns, promoting their acceptance of non-binary and transgender auditionees, and gradually reaching a level of 50% of their repertoire coming from diverse artists. The statement also announced the establishment of a Diversity Committee, set to include one figurehead from each acapella group to ensure that the best interests of all of the BU acapella community are kept in mind. The committee has opened an anonymous tip forum for students to safely express their thoughts on the state of their acapella group, report any incidents, and give their thoughts on how their group can improve. There will be an annual conversation held for the entire community to attend “to hold each other

accountable for maintaining these guidelines.” There will also be new events set to promote inter-group diversity. Some groups have taken it upon themselves to expand inclusivity within their own team. Kol Echad, BU’s Jewish acapella group, have rebranded to become a multicultural group. Where before they primarily focused on interlacing traditional Israeli and Jewish music with contemporary hits, they now have opened up to include members and music of a broader range of cultures. While some may argue this threatens to minimize the voices, literally and figuratively, of BU’s Jewish community members, this change does not mean that the Jewish members will be forced to surrender any of their identity within the group. Rather, this only allows for a space for all ethnicities to embrace their cultures more fervently. While the whole of the acapella community has the resolve to amplify diversity, the establishment of a group dedicated to being multicultural may attract those who do not just want to exist diversely, rather fully champion their diversity and culture on a public stage. Chordially Yours, BU’s all female acapella group, have also expanded upon their membership by explicit change to a “women and nonbinary group”. This change allows for those who may have previously felt uncomfortable in their approach to the gendered groups due to their own gender identity to feel that they have a place where they belong in the scene. While there are groups that are not gendered at all and have pledged to be accepting of nonbinary people, the establishment of a group for nonbinary people allows for them to openly express themselves as nonbinary, while also giving them the opportunity to connect with other nonbinary people with a passion for acapella who they may not have been able to meet otherwise. By implementing these inclusive practices and self-policing measures to uphold them, the BU acapella groups set an excellent precedent for all groups at BU. The dedication to inclusivity allows for the members to focus on their passion without the worry that their identity may intwerfere. While there is still room for improvement, the establishment of a community banding together to improve conditions for their members sets the stage for a brighter future.”