Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives are important programs used in government, business, and education to ensure that individuals receive fair treatment regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability status. Some sectors of our society have misrepresented and weaponized DEI for political purposes, but DEI initiatives on the whole have a measurably positive effect.
Last fall, the Central Connecticut State University administration announced changes to the CCSU Office of Equity and Inclusion (OEI), and these changes were implemented in January of this year. The mission of OEI was expanded to include, among other things, “…our understanding and appreciation of different faiths….”
This immediately gave some members of the campus community pause as such statements and initiatives invariably omit humanists, nonbelievers, and the religiously unaffiliated, a group that — according to the Pew Research Center — comprise 29% of the American populace and 16% of the world population. In the U.S., members of this group are second only to those identifying as Christian and significantly outnumber all other religious identities.
Over the past few weeks, the CCSU community has received emails regarding various religious observances; however, OEI and the various administrators in charge have not made clear which faiths or belief systems will receive publicity of events and which do not rise to the level to be acknowledged. While our society has understandably focused in recent weeks on anti-Semitism and Islamophobia, we often ignore the stigma associated with and prejudice directed at individuals who identify as humanist, atheist, agnostic, or belong to so-called “minor” religions. Members of the CCSU community who are not part of one of the Abrahamic religions are understandably confused as to who this office now represents based on the campus activities and messaging since the change to the OEI mission was announced.
Many groups like the American Humanist Society and the Satanic Temple recognize the rational approach to life followed by individuals in the aforementioned groups and explicitly honor those who have suffered discrimination and persecution by the world religions celebrating major holidays over the past few weeks.
The time around May 1 is specifically significant for many humanists, nonbelievers, and the religiously unaffiliated as this coincides with social observations of spring (celebrated as Beltane by Wiccans) and International Workers Day (Labor Day in much of the world). Specifically, April 30 is observed by the Satanic Temple as Hexennacht — “an occasion honoring those who fell victim to superstition and pseudoscience, whether by witch hunt, Satanic panic, or other injustices” — and May 2 is observed as a National Day of Reason by the American Humanist Society — “…to celebrate truth and reason and to raise public awareness about the persistent threat to religious freedom posed by attempts to eradicate the secular fiber of our democracy.”
I am hopeful that CCSU will acknowledge the nonbelievers on campus with a suitable message in the same way they have for those observing holidays and festivals in the Abrahamic religions over the past few weeks.
Barry Westcott, PhD, is a Professor at Central Connecticut State University.