Page 38 - BEQ Magazine Iss 20 Fall 2021 WebRev09272021

EASTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSIT Y

Sam D’Arcy-Darling (he/they) graduated from Eastern Michigan University in 2018 with a Bache- From the self-development end, I remember being
lor’s degree in Political Science. As an undergraduate, he served as a Senator in Eastern’s student told during new student orientation that “you’ll leave
government, consulted with the Michigan Department of Education on various projects regarding a different person than the one who arrived .” That
students with minority/marginalized identities and served as a Human Relations Commissioner for
the city of Ypsilanti, Mich. In 2019, he moved to the United Kingdom where he is earning a Master’s was incredibly true for me. I arrived very firm in my
degree in politics at the University of London and serves as a government relations officer with identity as a queer person but struggled to intersect
E very time I look at my bachelor’s identities through the LGBT Resource Center and the
Transport for London. my racial entity as a bi-racial individual with my
queerness . The spaces the university opened for my

degree on the wall it brings back
Center of Race and Ethnicity gave me access to people
memories of the experiences and
my intersecting identities .
opportunities that were given to me at East- and information which over time enabled me to affirm
I could not be happier with my time at Eastern .
ern Michigan University. When I spoke out
I remember on September 4, 2015, when I moved
about an issue or concern I felt like my voice in being worried about what I was doing and even
was heard by faculty, staff and administra- wanting to leave, but the community puts its arms
tion. I could go to my professors and tell around you . Everyone from Eastern President Smith to
office administrative staff cares profoundly about you.
them I had a rough day and they’d pro-
I wouldn’t be stepping into my role with one of
vide advice and feedback, the world’s largest public transportation authorities,
sometimes extending Transport for London, without the skills and experi-
deadlines with no further ences I gained at Eastern. I’m not only a first-genera-
questions asked. tion college graduate, but with the encouragement of
my entire academic department, I went on to pursue
a Master’s degree overseas . As an alumnus, I still have
I also found that faculty
frequent conversations with Eastern’s faculty and staff,
in particular had an internal
some of whom I consider to be personal friends along
radar for how external events
with many former peers who are now life-long friends.
impacted students . The admin-
A university can talk about diversity and inclusion,
istration tried every day to learn
but until it puts actions behind its words, the words
from its mistakes and take criticism,
mean nothing . Eastern takes the inclusion to heart
forming it into a constructive solution .
and each day in my experience the institution is
SAM They did this after [a 2016 incident involving] asking itself “How can I do better now and also
D’ARCY- racist vandalism by completely restructuring the tomorrow?” The lasting impact of my time at Eastern
DARLING, student conduct process to focus on restorative rather
Eastern than punitive justice . This ensured that learning was was life-altering in ways I had only dreamed of. 
Michigan
University at the front of any behavioral or academic honesty
graduate . issue . It also took aim at the punitive justice disparity
| COURTESY between white students and students of color .
PHOTO

38 FALL 2021 BUSINESSEQUALITYMAGAZINE .COM