Diversity at OU
2000s
2003: SAFE Program for OU LGBTQIA Community
S.A.F.E. (Students, Administration, and Faculty for Equality) is established. According to the October 23, 2003 campus news release, SAFE is "a new organization committed to providing an open and supportive environment for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) campus community. Program participants, or "allies," are available for assistance and also help challenge homophobia, heterosexism and other forms of discrimination".
Image: SAFE
2004: LGBTQIA Employee Resource Group
OU employees establish the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, and Ally Employee Resource Group (LGBTQIA). The group's mission is to " to foster an inclusive, open campus community, and to advance equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex and allied people." LGBTQIA notes that its mission also "support[s] the diversity and full inclusion and achievements of [the OU] student body."
Image: LGBTQIA Employee Resource Group
2006: Asian-American Celebration
From January 30 to February 3, OU holds its first Asian-American Celebration to recognize the uniqueness of cultures that "fall within the boundaries of Asia," including Russia, Pakistan, India, and Afghanistan.
Image: Oakland University Archives
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2006: Native American Student Association
The OU Native American Student Association is founded to "increase awareness on campus about the culture and heritage of Native Americans". For more recent information, see Student Aspires to Work for Native American Rights.
Image: Student Aspires to Work for Native American Rights
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Photos courtesy of the Oakland University Archives.
Project credits: original research by Johnnie Blunt; updates by Dominique Daniel and Cheyanne Kramer
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