Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Alexus Lee (2028) al233@rice.edu

Hi! I’m Alexus Lee, your DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) Representative at Will Rice. I’m a sophomore studying Economics and Neuroscience from NYC. My role is to help make Will Rice a welcoming space for all identities. We host inclusive events like Lunar New Year dumpling-making, Black History Month seafood boils, and Diwali with Lovett. Will Rice also supports affinity groups for LGBTQ+, FGLI, Black, Latinx, Jewish students, and more. Beyond our college, you can explore 100+ cultural orgs on OwlNest. Please reach out if you have any questions or ideas!

Say hello to your Community Facilitators Amaya Johnson and Tori Cole! We aim to make Will Rice a safe space for all identities and promote diversity, equity, and inclusion. DEI is important to us because people have many intersecting identities and we want to be sure that everyone can feel part of the WIll Rice family. Community facilitators host dialogues on diversity every Friday during the school year and are a resource for finding affinity groups or clubs. We also work out conflicts that may occur where certain actions or statements threaten our culture of care.

What are Community facilitators? Community Facilitators, or CF’s for short, are the liaisons between the Office of Multicultural Affairs and the student body. Each residential college has at least two CF’s assigned to it, where they take charge in leading diversity and inclusion workshops during O-Week and throughout the school year, serving as advisors for college leaderships, A-teams, and peers on issues related to equity and inclusion. In addition, CF’s host weekly dialogues on diversity related topics and have a lunch open to the entire campus.

Affinity groups on campus include, but are not limited to: Asian Pacific American Student Alliance, Rice Black Men's Association, Black Student Association Chinese Student Association, Caribbean Student Society, DAWA Pre-Health Society, Hispanic Association for Cultural Enrichment at Rice, Rice Black Women's Association, South Asian Society, Vietnamese Student Association, Rice African Student Association, Rice Muslim Student Association, Korean Student Association, Rice African Student Association, Rice Ethiopian and Eritrean Student Association, Rice Pride, Rice Hillel, and Middle Eastern and North African Student Association. You can find many more clubs headed by the OMA on Owlnest.

Dehumanization, marginalization, and violence impact so many different communities. At Will Rice, we stand against all types of discriminatory attitudes and behaviors. From Black Lives Matter to reproductive rights, Will Ricers engage civically and socially to strengthen our community bonds and uplift one another.

We must hear the voices of our systemically disenfranchised students, practice empathy, and do anything in our power to support them. We must not speak over them but should elevate their voices, their stories, and their priorities. Like the Phoenix, we must rise up and evolve to be a more anti-racist and inclusive Will Rice. People are not a monolith. We aim to advocate for all people of diverse backgrounds.