Inclusiveness Task Force

TCU sophomore Kellen Correia is charting a new course. As chairperson of the 12-person Inclusiveness Task Force, a new student-led diversity group, it’s her duty to implement a plan aimed at creating more diversity on TCU’s campus. Her first goal – set up one-on-one meetings with representatives of TCU’s minority groups to encourage them to open their doors to individuals outside their own ethnicity.

"Most people don’t attend events outside their organization because they don’t know anyone or don’t have friends there," said Correia. "The ITF hopes that by building friendships within the various minority organizations we will be able to come together and take our ideas to the majority, rather than one small organization attempting to conquer the whole."

The idea to target minority groups on campus originated from last year’s Conference on Inclusiveness, an annual conference hosted by TCU’s Council on Diversity. Students from five area universities attending the conference were encouraged to uncover issues of diversity on their campus and devise a plan of action to address those issues. Correia and 11 other TCU students who attended the conference formed the Inclusiveness Task Force. They decided that to increase diversity on campus they needed to start with a firm foundation.

"In order to gain diversity within the majority, we first need to create a bond within the minority groups," said Correia.

Members of the task force will meet one-on-one with the leaders of the 12 minority organizations on campus to work on building relationships that reach beyond the borders of individual organizations.

Next semester the task force, in conjunction with the minority groups, hopes to take their ideas to the majority organizations on campus. They have slowly begun to create a buzz within the Student Government Association, Interfraternity Council and the Panhellenic Council about the need to develop diversity within their groups.

The task force also is igniting interest among students as they become excited about potential changes on campus. The desire to be a part of the task force has been voiced by many students.

"As the organization expands, the original 12 members will eventually become the executive board," said Cornell Thomas, special assistant to the chancellor for diversity and community who has been instrumental in helping the task force implement their initiatives. "Most of the ITF is made up of younger students so they will be able to build as the years go on."

The task force is still in the process of brainstorming initiatives that will be useful to the TCU community. As they attend meetings of various organizations, including the Community Council a division of Programming Council, the task force is receiving positive feedback from everyone. Volunteers will be needed as new initiatives are put into action. The members are very excited as they get to voice their ideas and see the results.

"It is exciting to have students come together and take action," said Correia. "Everybody can talk about the problems that exist but we actually get to see the changes our work will create."