Anti-racism and inclusion statement:

The Department of Theatre & Dance is committed to anti-racist and inclusion practices to effect change on the culture of our department and the theatre and dance world.

We will do this by first acknowledging the land we occupy

We are currently on the native land of

ᏣᎳᎫᏪᏘᏱ Tsalaguwetiyi (Cherokee, East) 

Shawandasse Tula (Shawanwaki/Shawnee) 

S’atsoyaha (Yuchi) 

As a public University we benefit from this land and its resources, economic privilege and power afforded to all persons settled here. We acknowledge that this land is colonized, indigenous territory crafted through indigenous and slave labor. Therefore, we recognize our unearned privilege gained of this land by forced removal and enslavement.

The Department of Theatre and Dance is taking, and will continuously evaluate our actions, to change our culture by:

• Making thoughtful choices for our performance season, guest artist selection, scholarships and curriculum that reflect the students in our program
• Representing/recognizing all students of varied identities and differences of race, ethnicity, disability, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, tribe, and socio-economic status.
• Ensuring fair treatment, equity in opportunities and access to information and resources for all.
• Building a culture of inclusion and belonging by actively inviting participation and contribution of all.
• Reviewing, revising, and disrupting the curriculum in an effort to decolonize pedagogical practices and standards that exclude marginalized people.
• Valuing supportive spaces that allow for open, difficult, and brave discourse.
• Purposeful inclusion of this subject matter in all courses, rehearsals, and activities of the department.

We, in the Department of Theatre and Dance, are committed to this ongoing process.