Holy Cross Hosts Campuswide Summit to Address Campus Culture

In an effort to engage the community in building a more inclusive campus, the College of the Holy Cross held a campuswide summit on Nov. 16, which invited all Holy Cross students, faculty and staff to discuss and explore the culture at Holy Cross and the steps needed to build a community that supports and celebrates all its members.

The event, titled “ENGAGE Summit: Where Do We Go From Here?”, included more than 50 different sessions on a variety of topics, including LGBTQ issues, Title IX and sexual respect, and inclusion of marginalized groups. All afternoon classes, athletic practices and meetings were canceled to allow each community member the opportunity to learn from each other, gain new perspectives and offer ideas for how Holy Cross can move forward as a community.

"We are intentionally creating time in our schedule to come together as an entire community, because this gathering is intended for every one of us to participate," Rev. Philip L. Boroughs, S.J., president of the College, wrote in an email to campus announcing the summit. "I urge you all to attend, as I will, with open hearts and minds, a willingness to step outside of your comfort zone into challenging conversations, and with your best ideas."

"Our mission asks us to consider our responsibilities to each other," he continued. "Together we must imagine new ways of being in community with each other and then do the hard work to create a culture of mutual respect and civility. I know this community has the intellect, passion and commitment to accomplish this ambitious task."

The summit is the first step in addressing issues of respect and inclusion on campus. The College will also be creating further opportunities for the community to work together to identify issues, brainstorm solutions, respond to the feedback and suggestions, and enact needed change.