Affinity Groups

Affinity Groups are a vital part of the OEDIA programming that provides direct community support for students, faculty and staff. Affinity Groups are spaces made for folks who share an identity to convene together, build community, offer support, and explore identity. The OEDIA knows it is important to center our identities in order to build community and gain support from peers. Currently, students are initially offered 9+ different affinity groups during Orientation with ways to continue building community throughout their time at Pacific. 

Anyone interested in learning more about joining our affinity groups, please contact OEDIA at oedi@contact.pacificu.edu.

Los Grupos de Afinidad son una parte vital de la programación de la Oficina de Equidad, Diversidad, Inclusión y Accesibilidad (OEDIA) la cual brinda apoyo comunitario directo al profesorado y el personal. Los Grupos de afinidad son espacios creados para personas que comparten identidades comunes en cuanto a congregarse, crear una comunidad, ofrecer apoyo y explorar la identidad. La Oficina de Equidad, Diversidad, Inclusión y Accesibilidad entiende la importancia de centrar nuestras identidades para construir un sentido de comunidad y obtener el apoyo de nuestros compañeros y colegas. No duden en hacernos saber si necesitan algún servicio de traducción/interpretación. 

 

BIPOC Faculty & Staff Affinity Group

The BIPOC Affinity Group is an employee group committed to creating an inclusive, supportive, and affirming environment for self-defined faculty and staff. This affinity group aligns with OEDIA’s programming and strategic goals to support the retention and empowerment of Pacific’s BIPOC faculty and staff. The BIPOC Faculty & Staff Affinity Group meets monthly. 

LGBTQIA+ Staff & Faculty Affinity Group

The LGBTQIA+ Staff & Faculty Affinity Group is for anyone in the Pacific University community who falls under the Queer and Trans umbrella. The purpose of this group is to build community, network, and provide support to our fellow faculty and staff members. 

Anti-Racist Affinity Group

The purpose of this affinity group is accountability. The BIPOC community too often is engage in the emotional labor of educating white people about racism. Part of the purpose of this group is to create space to education each other and what it means to center the voices and needs of our BIPOC community, while taking necessary responsibility to engage in anti-racism work, especially understanding and dismantling white supremacy culture, and developing anti-oppressive practices. 

OEDIA Bookclub

In an effort to engage in continued anti-oppressive practices and productive discussion, the Office of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Accessibility will host a monthly book discussion on the OEDIA instagram (@pacificu_edi). To join the book discussion, follow us on Instagram and read the book. 

The following are titles to be discussed each month: 

  • September | Dear America: Notes of an Undocumented Citizen, by Jose Antonio Vargas (Borrow from Pacific Libraries / Borrow from OEDI / Publisher / Amazon)
  • October | Funeral for Flaca, by Emilly Prado (Borrow from Pacific Libraries / Borrow from OEDI / Publisher)
  • November | Seven Fallen Feathers, Tanya Talaga (Borrow from PU Libraries / Borrow from OEDI / Buy from Publisher, Amazon)
  • December | White Like Me: Reflections on Race from a Privileged Son, by Tim Wise (Borrow from PU Libraries: ebook, print/ Borrow from OEDI / Buy from Publisher, Amazon)
  • January | So you want to talk about race, Ijeoma Oluo (Borrow from PU Libraries: ebook, print/ Borrow from OEDI / Buy from Publisher, Amazon)
  • February | How to Be an Antiracist, Ibram X. Kendi (Borrow from PU Libraries: ebook, print/ Borrow from OEDI / Buy from Publisher, Amazon)
  • March | What White People Can Do Next, by Emma Dabiri (Borrow from PU Libraries: ebook, print/ Borrow from OEDI / Buy from Publisher, Amazon)
  • April | It's Time to Talk (and Listen): A Handbook for Healing Conversations About Race, Class, Sexuality, Ability, Gender, and More , by Anatasia Kim, Alicia del Pardo (Borrow from PU Libraries: ebook, print/ Borrow from OEDI / Buy from Publisher, Amazon)
  • May | Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning, Cathy Park Hong (Borrow from PU Libraries: ebook, print/ Borrow from OEDI / Buy from Publisher, Amazon) 
  • June | Go Tell it on the Mountain, by James Baldwin (Borrow from PU Libraries: ebook, print / Borrow from OEDI / Buy from Publisher, Amazon)

 

Staff Senate books

 

If you would like to propose and lead an additional affinity group to support Pacific University's commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility, please contact OEDIA at oedi@contact.pacificu.edu.

 

Consistent with federal and state law, Pacific acknowledges that while groups are intended to create space and focus on the needs of certain communities, all Pacific community members who are supportive of creating an inclusive environment that celebrates diversity are welcome to attend any affinity group meeting or event.