At Princeton University, one of America's eight Ivy League schools, lies a Catholic educational apostolate, known as the Aquinas Institute. And in October, it will host a conference that uses a Catholic perspective to tackle what has become a polarizing topic: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion.
BRANDON VAN DYCK
Associate Director, Princeton Initiative in Catholic Thought
In my view and in the view of my colleagues at the Princeton Intitiative of Catholic Thought, DEI is a somewhat misguided set of propositions and values. But we think the most prudent thing to do is to engage with it. And to do so in a way that might actually bear fruit over time.
The conference will bring together professors, writers and religious leaders. It will consist of five panels that answer questions like, “Where does our equality come from?” and “How should we meet people's need for inclusion?” It also includes a closing keynote from Bishop Varden of Norway.
The goal of the conference is to open the discussion of reforming the current DEI framework to meet the needs of everyone.
BRANDON VAN DYCK
Associate Director, Princeton Initiative in Catholic Thought
But the way we want to do it is to substitute something for it. To offer institutions an alternative framework that is truer, universal, that will work better in a wider range of situations. That will truly make everyone feel included, ironically. Because one thing about DEI is that, just as a matter of fact, there are a lot of people that do not feel included by DEI, it's kind of ironic.
The approach to creating a DEI substitution will take into account Catholic traditions and teachings.
CHRISTOPHER-MARCUS GIBSON
Director, Princeton Initiative in Catholic Thought
We hope that this can be a good faith expression of intellectual friendship and of confidence in the Catholic tradition's ongoing vitality, it's ongoing ability to intervene in the current cultural moment, intellecutal moment, in a way which is, it can both challenge the world, challenge the culture in a genuine way, but also in a way that can be generative and fruitful.
This conference will be held on October 25 and 26. It is just the first step of many more initiatives to come for Princeton's Augustine Institute's large project to develop an alternative approach to DEI.
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