The Writing Centers acknowledge that Rutgers University sits on Lenni-Lenape land, even as remaining tribal members continue to struggle to preserve their cultures and languages. We support this struggle.
We also acknowledge that Rutgers University was founded by slaveholding families, and its very existence depends on the former sale and labor of Black slaves. We are committed to confronting our past and undoing the systemic racism that continues to shape our academic landscape. We support the ongoing work for racial justice in which so many of our students, faculty, and staff are engaged.
We are dedicated to a mission of social justice and providing top quality writing education in an environment free from discrimination, including that based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic class, age, ability, nationality, religion, or immigration status. In order to ensure equity, diversity, and inclusivity in our Writing Centers, we believe all students have the right to speak their own language and work in an environment that nurtures cross-cultural exchange. We also believe that student basic needs and security can influence educational success, and work towards recognizing and assisting vulnerable students as they take up the challenge of academic writing. Finally, we respect that students thrive in a variety of learning contexts, and encourage them to discover what works best for them as they transfer their writing knowledge into academic assignments. This empowers students to be their own writing authorities, builds community in difference, and promotes the value of civic engagement.
