My Top 5 thoughts about equality, diversity and inclusion at DMU

DMU students value equality, diversity and inclusion and it is often a reason they choose to study here. Our celebration of Black History Month comes to a close at the end of October, after which we’ll welcome Disability History Month, starting in mid-November. A string of religious festivals, starting with Diwali, will take us into the New Year, when we’ll look forward to other celebrations, including Pride, in 2025.

This celebration shouldn’t be confined to these times alone, and one of the many great things at DMU is that equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) is at the forefront of everything that we do.

As Pro Vice-Chancellor Education and Equalities, here are my Top 5 thoughts about EDI that I think all students at DMU should know.

1. Embracing EDI enables us to create a campus where we can truly be ourselves. By doing so we build a place that empowers us to own our identity, be proud of who we are, and face the world with confidence and conviction.
2. We believe in making sure everyone has a voice, not just to speak but to be heard. Hearing different views and opinions gives us the gift of insight into the wealth of experiences and opportunities we may never have thought of. DMU is a place for everyone to have their voices heard.
3. Respecting EDI enables people to be open, to interact with and be curious about each other. It allows us to ask questions and expand our knowledge and understanding of our how our differences are often what unites us in curiosity and learning. This isn’t confined to the characteristics that are visible, but also those we can’t see.
4. DMU is a place of support. The DSU Liberation Officers are available, and I’ve included a list below if you need to contact them. Meanwhile we have our No Space for Hate programme, which epitomises our commitment to each other to create a positive culture of acceptance so that there is literally no space left for hate to exist here at DMU.
5. By embarking on your student journey at DMU, you are venturing into a new environment to meet new people, see new places and learn new things. EDI is also about recognising and embracing the uniqueness in ourselves and other people, and realising that being inclusive is about accepting and embracing the things that we find that we have in common, as well as embracing and celebrating the richness of our diversity.

 DSU Liberation Officers

• BAME Students – Duke Duke: daniel.duke@dmu.ac.uk
• Disabled Students – Libs Morris: libs.morris@dmu.ac.uk
• LGBTQ+ Students – Bronze Sparks: bronze.sparks@dmu.ac.uk
• Mature Students – Lyn Landon: lyn.landon@dmu.ac.uk
• Women Students – Paige Billings: paige.billings@dmu.ac.uk

Liberation Officer roles for International Students and Postgraduate Students are currently vacant. Voting opened on Saturday 26 October and close on Wednesday 30 October.