When St. Francis of Assisi entered the hostile camp of Malik-al-Kamil, Sultan of Egypt, in the early 1200s during the Fifth Crusade, his initial goal was to convert the sultan to Christianity. Instead, the two men parted with a new respect for each other's faith and culture.
Their meeting is often referred to as the first real dialogue between Christians and Muslims, and the ability of St. Francis to embrace a perceived enemy as his brother is part of the tradition of understanding and acceptance that guides the community
of Franciscans to this day.
We strive to walk in the footprints of St. Francis by cultivating a campuswide environment for celebrating multiculturalism and diversity, and to instill in all our community members an appreciation for the similarities
and differences that we encounter as citizens of the world. It's part of our Franciscan values, part of what it means to be a Franciscan university.
Established in the summer of 2020, the President's Commission on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is committed to respecting the uniqueness of each individual, to embrace diverse backgrounds, to advocate for equitable and inclusive communities, and to foster opportunities to develop multi-cultural competencies.
The commission is dedicated to developing educational and social initiatives that reflect the individual self-worth of all regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national or ethnic origin, physical or mental disability, marital or veteran status campuswide.
The Equity Institute, located in the Damietta Center (second floor of Reilly Center), facilitates student development opportunities (focused on elevation, insight, pride, and connection), and administers student assessments focused on creating thoughtful divisional responses to issues around race, gender, equity and social justice.
The Equity Institute is committed to providing students with the support and skills needed to thrive at SBU.
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The Equity Institute