By Caitlin Marsch in College Days, Student Life on February 1, 2024
The CDI is making changes to make the space more inclusive for students
The Center for Diversity and Inclusion has a new space for students to destress and create art.
Students can reserve the Tranquility Space, located in room G3 in Harwood Memorial Union near the CDI, to enjoy art supplies, a sun lamp, a variety of chairs, and other decor.
The new Tranquility Space is filled with art supplies. Photo courtesy of Caitlin Marsch.
CDI Director Yazmin Doroteo said she wanted to create another space for everyone to feel included and to get away from the stressors of student life.
“Sometimes you need a space where it’s quiet and nobody is gonna interrupt you,” Doroteo said.
Senior and CDI student intern Aaliyah Robinson said that the space is calming.
“Every aspect of the space feels like peace and home,” Robinson said.
The office has been available since before the pandemic, but Doroteo made changes to the space to make it more welcoming, including moving art supplies from the CDI into the space and painting the wall red.
Doroteo is also hoping to make resources available to students who use the space, such as menstrual products and hair care products that were donated by the Black Student Union.
“We want to take care of our own,” Doroteo said.
Reservation slips outside of the Tranquility Room. Photo courtesy of Caitlin Marsch.
She also hopes to expand the space to have winter clothing available to students, especially for incoming students who may not be prepared for frigid Wisconsin winters.
“Instead of some people having a culture shock, it could be a weather shock, a climate shock,” Doroteo said. “They’re not used to -2, -3 [degree] temperatures, and the wind is hurting your face.”
The CDI in general has been revamped.
Art supplies are available for use in the Tranquility Room. Photo courtesy of Caitlin Marsch.
“[I] think the new decorations for CDI look amazing and match more closely with our values of inclusivity and change,” Robinson said.
However, Doroteo is still looking for student input to help decorate.
“I’m really trying to get all students to come in and say, ‘This is what I would like to see, this is what I would like to add,’” Doroteo said.
Robinson suggested that the CDI could expand by engaging with different aspects of campus, such as Greek Life, to “allow more conversations about the importance of DEI and what the CDI is doing to encourage Ripon College to be more involved in our ever-changing society.”
Doroteo said that the CDI is planning on holding an open house in the near future.
The revamped Jerry Thompson Study Room in the CDI. Photo courtesy of Caitlin Marsch.
“It’s pending, just because we have a busy month in February,” Doroteo said.