The Mary V. Jordan Multicultural Center held the first of several “Listening for Action” events on March 2 in response to the ETSU men’s basketball team kneeling during the national anthem.

The event hosted 10 people in-person and over 30 people on Zoom. In attendance were students, faculty, Multicultural Center staff, Vice President for ETSU Student Life and Enrollment Joe Sherlin and even Mary V. Jordan, who the Multicultural Center was named after.

Carshonda Martin, director of the Mary V. Jordan Multicultural Center. (Contributed/ETSU)

“This is the first of many series that we hope to have over not only the course of the semester, but over the course of the year,” said Carshonda Martin, director of Multicultural Center and access and student success. “We want to create a space for students to feel comfortable to bring light to issues that are centered around equity, inclusion and diversity in terms of our campus climate.”

During the event, students asked questions about communications regarding the kneeling from the university and Tennessee state senators, the rights of student-athletes and what this means for the future of ETSU athletics. Students were able to share their emotions regarding this event and other racial injustices they have experienced.

Vice President for Equity and Inclusion Keith Johnson led the discussion and outlined accomplishments ETSU’s Office of Equity and Inclusion have already achieved. The ETSU Office of Equity and Inclusion has created a strategic action plan for 2020-2022 to promote diversity and inclusion on campus and to address related issues.

“We want students to be able to feel that they’re being supported, and we feel as a center that the way that they can feel supported is being able to have a voice, and for their voice to be heard,” said Martin.

Martin hopes three to four more “Listening for Action” events will be held this semester and will cover topics that students are concerned about. Similar series that highlight students’ opinions about campus climate will be ongoing.

Martin encouraged students and faculty to engage with these events to learn more about the lived experiences of others that differ from their own.

“Listening for Action” was not only created for student voices to be heard, but also to enact change.

“I hope that we can brainstorm on ways that we as a university can lead and promote action for changes to create a more inclusive culture,” said Martin.