Cedars, October 2020

Fall 2020 17 are to be concerned about diversity. That includes a passion for the nations and a heartbeat for inclusion here at Cedarville, Barnett said. “Cedarville needs to be a place where other cultures are welcomed,” Barnett said. One of the team’s goals is to evaluate every area of student life to see where faculty and staff can encourage the growth of diversity in our student body so that they can welcome others. Cedarville’s faculty wants to help the campus represent the global body of believers both in the different cultures that are represented on our campus and in the unity among all students. Oneness in Christ transcends racial, ethnic, cultural, and national boundaries, the committee emphasized. Welcoming students from a variety of cultural backgrounds with open arms is something they want to demonstrate to every one of their students. “We are understanding diversity in light of the nature of God’s kingdom,” said Owens. “The reality is that it is only in the gospel that actual unity can happen in humanity. We are trying very much to take a very gospel- centered approach with this [committee].” The Kingdom Diversity Committee is also looking to gather information regarding minority students at Cedarville University and broaden their knowledge of the population statistics on campus. Who is represented on campus? Are they being reached, communicated with, and represented effectively? These are the kinds of questions that the team will be asking in an effort to ensure that no student is marginalized. The team brings a variety of perspectives and backgrounds to approach these questions. By working together, they hope to implement policy changes that will positively impact Cedarville University. As they assess campus dynamics, they aspire to use this information to effectively unite our student body, building on the existing foundation. In the words of Dr. Kevin Jones, “This is not new for Cedarville; this is an enhancement for Cedarville.” As students seek a biblical perspective on diversity, the Kingdom Diversity Committee aims to implement educational opportunities to inform students on pertinent issues. Additionally, members of the committee are seeking to highlight the opportunities that are already available for students to educate themselves on diversity. While opportunities to directly provide activities for students are limited due to COVID-19 restrictions, the committee is already working toward creative solutions as well as future possibilities. Kathryn McDonald is a sophomore Psychol- ogy major and writer for the Campus News section of Cedars. You can probably catch her writing a letter to a friend in the library or drinking coffee from her favorite mug. When she is not at her desk studying, she is probably on her phone catching up with friends or reading her favorite American poetry. Photo courtesy of Scott Huck anel discussing racial justice, Black Lives Matter and critical race theory.