The EMU office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) held an event the night of March 21 to premiere the Viewpoint with Dennis Quaid documentary featuring EMU, and to also commemorate the progress EMU has made in terms of diversity and inclusivity. Students, staff, alumni, and community members alike came together “dressed to impress” to enjoy a variety of activities. Catering included snacks such as sushi, popcorn, and charcuterie, alongside dinner from Mashita and dessert from BMC Bakes. Students who wanted pictures were able to choose between a photo booth and a blue carpet with a “paparazzi” of student photographers. A notable part of the night was the student and alumni speakers, all of whom shared their experiences at EMU as African-Americans with intersecting identities such as being part of the LGBTQ+ community, womanhood, and being plus sized. They explored how these identities affected their experiences at EMU during both current and earlier, less accepting years. After these speeches, the EMU Gospel Choir made their debut, with a performance that many crowd members joined in on.
Following the premiere itself, the Latinx Student Alliance (LSA) went on stage to instruct premiere attendees how to dance the bachata. The night then continued with dancing and prizes. Attendees were able to enter a raffle, which had EMU lion heads able to be won; these consisted of seven lions, each hand-painted by Dawn Neil, a DEI staff member, to represent EMU clubs involved in diversity, equity, and inclusion, such as: the Black Student Alliance, Queer Student Alliance, Latinx Student Alliance, Asian Pacific Islander Student Alliance, International Student Organization, and more.
The five minute premiere was a compilation of day to day life of students at EMU, with quotes from DEI staff member Jackie Font-Guzmán and president Dr. Susan Schulz Huxman on how EMU has always been committed to promoting peace and diversity, and how that ties in with EMU being a faith-based institution. Moments ranged from students walking on the paths, to a meditation during a “Sacred Pauses” class, to students mingling and playing ping-pong. The documentary will be accessible in many homes and brings EMU a lot of exposure—however, students seemed the most immersed in the overall experience. From singing and dancing with each other, to enjoying food and desserts, EMU came together as a community to socialize, celebrate inclusivity, and look forward to future progress.
