Cuyamaca College English Department Anti-Racism Statement 

Cuyamaca English Department Statement of Solidarity and Commitment

In a time of escalating attacks on marginalized communities and on the principles of equity and inclusion, the English Department at Cuyamaca College reaffirms our unwavering commitment to diversity, equity, inclusivity, and accessibility (DEIA) in our curriculum, classrooms, and broader educational community. We reject any efforts to undermine these values at the federal, state, or local levels and remain steadfast in our work to ensure that all students—especially those historically and currently underserved by educational institutions—experience meaningful and equitable learning opportunities in our courses.

 

We stand in solidarity with our immigrant students and colleagues, recognizing that no human being can be considered “illegal,” particularly on stolen Kumeyaay land. We reject policies designed to instill fear in immigrant and mixed-status families and remain committed to their safety, dignity, and right to education.

 

We strongly condemn the surge of anti-LGBTQIA+ rhetoric and the alarming wave of legislation threatening the well-being and very existence of transgender children and adults. These policies are acts of cruelty, and we reject all efforts to erase, silence, or endanger trans lives. Our department will continue fostering spaces where students of all gender identities and expressions feel seen, valued, and safe.

 

Furthermore, we recognize the vital role of public institutions and federal programs that support children, low-income families, and our nation’s shared resources—including public schools, libraries, and national parks. The erosion of these programs directly harms the communities we serve, and we advocate for policies that ensure access, opportunity, and protection for all.

Our work of building a truly equitable, inclusive, and accessible learning environment is ongoing.

 

Cuyamaca College’s English Department strives to ensure that our curriculum and classrooms honor the identities, experiences, interests, and needs of our diverse student population. We will not waver in this commitment, regardless of external pressures. Our goal remains clear: to empower students through literature, language, and critical thinking, offering students the tools to succeed and thrive in a world that too often seeks to limit their potential.

 

Students, if you are reading this, know that your English instructors are allies and advocates. We are here to support you, to provide guidance, and to connect you with resources. If you are facing uncertainty or fear due to immigration status, gender identity, racism, systemic injustices, or attacks on your rights, we will take action to help ensure your safety and access to education.

 

You are not alone.

 

Additionally, we commit to taking the following actions to promote anti-racist teaching and learning:

 

1. Infuse our teaching with compassion, understanding, and hope.
2. Develop a socially just curriculum in our composition and literature classes that promotes racial equity, dismantles white supremacy, and empowers and validates our students of color.
3. Create a community of practice to discuss and develop antiracist teaching strategies and practices that close equity gaps and promote the success of our Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) students.
4. Facilitate and participate in campus-wide events that validate and amplify the voices of BIPOC students and promote a more comprehensive understanding of the contributions of BIPOC writers, artists, and scholars.
5. Engage in ongoing professional development in order to continuously interrogate our own values, actions, and practices, and to ensure that faculty remain current in anti-racist teaching practices.
6. Consistently revisit equity data across the department and in individual classes in order to monitor our progress towards closing all equity gaps in success rates.
7. Participate in difficult conversations around dismantling white supremacy and racism that permeate the very fabric of our systems and institutions in order to dismantle and denounce the norms and values of white supremacy in all their iterations.
8. Develop a review process for our courses to ensure that the curriculum for all of our courses is anti-racist and equitable, and to ensure that all courses offered through the English department reflect our shared values.