The University of Maryland RHA passed a resolution Tuesday reaffirming the association’s existing commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion and sustainability.
The resolution reasserts pre-existing values and policy related to inclusivity and sustainability, but it will not effectively change any current RHA operations, according to senator-at-large Nicole Barnes. The resolution follows a similar Student Government Association bill passed on Feb. 5 under the same name.
“We found it very important to reaffirm that diversity, equity, inclusion and sustainability are pillars that play a pivotal role in how we are able to advocate and represent for students on campus,” the sophomore philosophy, politics and economics and public policy major told The Diamondback.
SGA’s comparable bill comes after U.S. President Donald Trump’s executive order that aimed to restrict “illegal and immoral” federal DEI and environmental justice programs instituted by former president Joe Biden’s administration.
SGA approached RHA about the possibility of complementary DEI and sustainability bills at the beginning of the semester, junior biological sciences major and RHA vice president Michelle Ameyaw told The Diamondback.
While SGA’s bill addressed this university’s legal ability to uphold DEI and environmental justice programming, RHA’s resolution specified its own objectives by reaffirming its established diversity and inclusion and sustainability committees.
RHA’s position as a student organization means federal mandates impacting this university do not directly affect its legislation and committees as they might affect SGA, according to Ameyaw.
“We just wanted to make our stance known, because we feel like diversity, inclusion and sustainability are very central to the work we do,” Ameyaw said.
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Diversity and inclusion action and sustainability committees are written into the RHA constitution, according to Ameyaw.
The bill aims to reassure students that sustainability will continue to be a priority on campus, sustainability committee chair Emily Shoemaker told The Diamondback.
“We are not just going to stop doing sustainability just because a higher power that be says that they aren’t valued,” the sophomore information science and philosophy, politics and economics major said.
The bill also mentions this university’s similar sustainability values, noting the 2022 Fearlessly Forward Plan, which recognizes this university’s commitment to achieving a “diverse and engaged community.”
“It affects pretty much everyone, and I think the university’s stance is echoed amongst the governing bodies on campus,” Shoemaker said.
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Reiterating the importance of diversity and inclusion in dorms is also an objective of the bill, Ameyaw said. Building inclusive communities is one of RHA’s mission statements, she added.
Reaffirming RHA’s commitments to DEI and sustainability by collaborating with SGA seemed like a timely opportunity in the face of potential federal funding concerns, Barnes said.
“It’s always very important to us to continue to uphold that those things are things of value and ideas that resonate within our organization,” Barnes said. “If there are other steps that can best help serve the student body, we will continue further support.”
