About Understanding our content Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Joining StudLife Policies Staff Other information

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Our work as a campus newspaper will be strongest when we tell the stories of the different communities on our campus in a respectful manner and create an internal environment where everyone—particularly those who have traditionally not had a place in news media—is welcomed. Since many of this paper’s past initiatives in this realm have fallen short, we are including a tracker that lists progress on our DEI work. As the fall semester begins, we are currently in the process of fine-tuning our DEI initiatives and putting these plans into motion over the long-term.

If you have suggestions about what StudLife can do better in this realm, you can email [email protected] or fill out this form. We will update this page with our progress on various initiatives by November 1, 2021.

This tracker was last updated October 6, 2021

Goal

Initiative

Progress

Ensure DEI initiatives remain a key focus for StudLife Create a standing DEI team Members selected with first meeting to occur in mid-October
Ensure DEI initiatives remain a key focus for StudLife Start keeping track of what, who and how our content covers, as a way of creating and improving upon a baseline for the future Managing editors have begun to update internal trackers so that there is data for the DEI team to analyze later this month.
Decrease financial barriers to entry for staffers Move senior staff stipends from a semesterly basis to a monthly basis First stipends will go out at the end of September / early October, instead of end of December
Decrease financial barriers to entry for staffers Increase the amount of money allocated for staff stipends Initiation of conversations with WUSMI members and plans for alternative revenue streams to augment existing pool of money
Provide more clarity about our content, policies and how we operate Update About page with expanded information about our content, better explanations of policies and other details The new page is live now (including this tracker!)
Engage in more informed, sensitive reporting on topics relating to marginalized communities on campus Hold regular trainings facilitated by outside groups focused on topics such as implicit bias and sensitive reporting Completed training with the Center for Diversity and Inclusion Sept. 26, with more trainings in the works for later this fall.
Create a list of common microaggressions / misrepresentations that have appeared in our recent work and make sure that the list is distributed to reporters and editors so that we know what to avoid Initial list development to commence mid-October, with a goal of completing it by the end of the month.
Give readers and community members more opportunities to provide feedback Create general feedback form, pitches and tips form and Forum feedback form The forms are now included on the updated About page
Create a more welcoming and supportive environment for students of color, low-income students and others who have historically not been included in media Introduce private staff support groups outside of our Slack workspace Space request form is pinned in Slack so that staffers can request the creation of a space at any time.


These charts show the demographic makeup of the Student Life senior staff for the 2020-2021 year and the 2021-2022 year, respectively. Numbers on the charts represent percentages.

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