Students Express Concerns over University Culture at Town Hall

GW administrators in attendance listened and responded to students on issues of race, diversity and inclusion at the Black Student Union town hall.

George Washington University students expressed their frustrations as black students on campus at a town hall Thursday night asked administrators to work to create a more inclusive community.

The town hall, hosted by the GW Black Student Union, had the theme “Changing the Culture” and encouraged students to talk openly and honestly about issues they have faced, especially those related to the racial climate at the university.

GW administrators—including President Thomas LeBlanc, Provost Forrest Maltzman, Vice Provost for Diversity, Equity and Community Engagement Caroline Laguerre-Brown, Senior Vice Provost for Enrollment and the Student Experience Laurie Koehler and Dean of the Student Experience Cissy Petty—were also in attendance at the discussion in the Elliott School of International Affairs to hear the students’ perspectives on their experiences and respond to some of their concerns.

At a Faculty Senate meeting on Friday, Dr. LeBlanc told faculty members that those concerns are not only a problem for black students or the administration but also a problem for the entire GW community.

“They’re experiencing a different GW than many of us are experiencing,” Dr. LeBlanc said. “To sit there and listen to these things gave me hope because we’re having a conversation, we were hearing things, and we were listening. There were some proposals about things we can do better—I tend to generally live life as an optimist, so I think we can do better.”

See full story:
GW Today.