To: Erike H James, Dean
Create D&I Office at GBS
At Goizueta Business School, there are no resources (that I've heard of) for marginalized students to receive support or guidance in their experience at business school, especially for marginalized students of color and first-generation students. The grading system is ranked (it is not to say to change this, but to provide context for the stress that is put on students who have not been prepared prior to college to succeed in this manner), only a certain percentage of individuals are ALLOWED to receive an A, A-, B+, B, etc. You literally fight to be at the top of your classmates. The business school needs to do better to provide support to these students and the resources are plenty (I know this because every Thursday we have what is called Kegs, where there are food and kegs, and while this is amazing, it is just one example of how there is funding going towards something less important than this).
Why is this important?
Yes, I am personally affected by this. I am a biracial Black and white first-generation, low income, student of color. I am white and am granted white privilege and experience the emotional and internal effects of the problems mentioned. As a person of privilege, I experience the "better" end of this emotional turmoil, so take time to imagine how my visibly students-of-color peers feel.