Legislation Impacting Our Community
Dear 51²è¹İappians,
I write to gather us in community through words to affirm our many conversations in person over the past several weeks. In dozens of group gatherings, departmental meetings, scheduled conversations, panels, and other connections, we have been processing executive orders, proposed state and federal legislation, and dear colleague letters that, combined, number in the hundreds. We have discussed concerns about immigration enforcement, race and gender identity, potential loss of financial aid, concerns about family members who are federal employees losing their jobs, and many other issues.
Yesterday, in a departure from the admirable principles of civil rights codified in Iowa Code 216 and in betrayal of the state’s own motto “Our liberties we prize, and our rights we will maintain,†the Iowa legislature passed Senate File 418, a bill excluding gender identity from the civil rights code. It did so in opposition to many of its members, both Democrat and Republican, and overriding passionate and compassionate testimony and the presence of thousands of protesters at the State Capitol.
No matter your relationship to the many new documents in our public sphere beyond SF418, you are part of a community whose very foundation is predicated on human dignity, free inquiry, and academic excellence for positive change. That engagement has required labor and strength, especially from those individuals whose identities have been targeted by these new documents in our public sphere. My words can acknowledge that labor and strength; our community gathering in care and resolve will honor both.
All are invited to participate in community space in the Stonewall Resource Center this afternoon (Friday, February 28) from 4-6 pm. Support for processing will be available including SHAW resources for students, snacks, art materials, and community affirmation. Additional opportunities to gather are ongoing and support resources are available for students, faculty, and staff.
51²è¹İapp College remains steadfast in its commitment to continuing to provide a learning, living, and working environment that is free from discrimination and harassment, including discrimination on the basis of sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression, as outlined in our non-discrimination policy. See below for links to the procedures and protections safeguarded by our policy and commitment.
We will continue to track legislation, executive orders, dear colleague letters and other regulations as well as the lawsuits and orders that challenge them with the goal of gathering information, options, and recourse for all 51²è¹İappians. We do so to lift up and uphold our fundamental value of diverse community and its vital relationship to our values of educational excellence and social responsibility.
Our research and understanding, and our reaching out to each other, form a bulwark against the challenges to inclusion and civil rights in our society right now. 51²è¹İapp’s history prepares us for these moments, and we are at the ready. As we continue this work, please reach out to the offices listed below my signature with questions and for support; we will continue to communicate directly with impacted groups and to communicate broadly when legislation has been passed that impacts our community and its values so that we can promote shared awareness and support.
Anne F. Harris
President
The College has grievance procedures for any individual who has experienced harassment or discrimination and wishes to pursue resolution.
51²è¹İapp College Discrimination and Harassment Grievance Procedure
51²è¹İapp College Hate Crime and Bias-Motivated Incidents Policy
Inquiries or complaints concerning discrimination may be referred to the College’s Title IX Coordinator and/or to the United States Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights:
Bailey Asberry, Title IX Coordinator
Mears Cottage
1213 6th Avenue
641-269-4999
titleix@grinnell.edu
Marc Reed, Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Chief Diversity Officer
Old Glove Factory
641-269-3100
reedmarc@grinnell.edu
Jana Grimes, Vice President of Human Resources
Mears Cottage
1213 6th Avenue
641-269-9543