Binghamton University's strength lies in its people. We are proud that our students, faculty, staff, and administrators represent a great variety of cultures, backgrounds, and ideas. Our members contribute to the creation of an open, supportive campus environment with high levels of intellectual and creative energy. Building on our strengths, Binghamton aspires to become more than a multicultural institution; it strives to become a genuine inclusive community, one where those with differing backgrounds and allegiances feel themselves to be valued and learn from one another, and one where civility, respect, and reasoned debate prevail.

CAMPUS CLIMATE

To realize its goals, Binghamton dedicates itself to creating a campus environment in which all its members-irrespective of racial, ethnic, or religious heritage; class; gender; sexual orientation; or ability status-participate in and contribute fully to the life of the University.

Binghamton also strives to achieve a climate that fosters respect for the differences among and within the University's cultural groups, and that encourages cultural groups and organizations to offer activities and events that may be shared by the University community to everyone's advantage.

INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP RESPONSIBILITY

As a community Binghamton students, faculty, staff, and administrators all share responsibility, individually and collectively, for achieving the goals of inclusiveness. In our multiple roles, each of us is responsible for encouraging comfort and openness among all members of the University, and wherever possible, ensuring that events of all types (academic, social, cultural, athletic, etc.) are designed to attract and include all people, whatever their race, religion, gender, disability status, ethnic background or sexual orientation.

ACADEMIC FREEDOM

Throughout its history, Binghamton has maintained a tradition of open communication and freedom of expression. It recognizes that the university is a traditional sphere of free expression fundamental to the functioning of our society. The Binghamton President's Commission on Free Speech and Academic Freedom (1992) affirms the academic freedom of students as well as professors: "Students have freedom to exercise their intellectual curiosity, to draw conclusions for themselves and to express their own opinions, no matter how controversial, [and] without fear [of reprisal]."

This commitment is not merely theoretical. Binghamton has a history of active student involvement on controversial issues of international and national as well as local significance. traditionally, and proudly, the University has avoided, not envied, a placid climate and has addressed contentious ideas through vigorous debate and peaceful protest.

To promote this fundamental goal Binghamton reaffirms its identity as:

· a public institution that serves all the people,

· an open community where freedom of expression is uncompromisingly protected and where civility is powerfully affirmed, and

· a haven where the University, by its policies and procedures and the civic spirit of its citizens, ensures that business as well as co-curricular activities take place in an environment of civility and tolerance.

REALIZING OUR GOALS

Binghamton holds that the goals of an inclusive community must be pursued through specific policies as well as statements of principle. Toward this end, Binghamton commits itself to:

· providing forums where all voices, irrespective of political ideology or philosophical commitment, may be heard;

· continuing to build on its long-standing commitment to recruit a diverse student body, faculty, administration, and staff;

· increasing the number of faculty and staff from underrepresented groups, including women, with particular attention to offices and departments lacking such representation;

· enrolling a growing number of undergraduate and graduate students from groups that have been historically underrepresented;

· increasing the number of international students on the Binghamton campus in order to enrich the education of all our students;

· enhancing programming activities and library and museum collections to reflect intellectual and creative contributions of all racial, ethnic, and cultural groups and countries;

· regularly evaluating policies to eliminate disparate impact on groups and individuals.

BINGHAMTON'S PLEDGE

Binghamton recognizes that the full realization of an inclusive community is challenging. · The University recognizes it cannot achieve the ideal inclusive community by itself-that goal must be nurtured in each of us, in word and in deed.· In striving toward this goal, we must face honestly the difficulties we encounter, and we must be willing to discuss widely both our successful efforts and those that fall short of the mark.· To keep our aspirations constantly before us, Binghamton pledges to represent itself to our own community and to the world in ways that bespeak our identity as a richly diverse and inclusive public University.· On behalf of the entire University community, it further pledges to achieve the goal of being an inclusive community within a framework of academic freedom and respect.