Multicultural Education Week, SAAC unite to hold a silent “Walk for Equality” event

Editor’s note: Due to the weather forecast, this event has been postponed to 2 p.m. Monday, Nov. 2

The Office of Multicultural Programs and Retention is partnering with Salve Regina’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) to host a “Walk for Equality” event on Thursday, Oct. 29, at 2 p.m. on Gerety Hall’s lawn. This walk is in coordination with Multicultural Education Week and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)’s Diversity and Inclusion Social Media Campaign, which is running from Oct. 27 through Oct. 29.

“I thought that this would be a perfect opportunity to show that Salve fully supports and encourages inclusion and equality,” said Paul Boutoussov ’21, major in financial management, captain of Salve Regina’s ice hockey team, and president of SAAC. “The [NCAA campaign’s] theme on Thursday the 29th is ‘Together We Rise,’ which highlights personal action steps to inclusive excellence and celebrates collaboration across the campus community.”

Salve Regina’s staff, faculty and students are all invited to join the “Walk for Equality” event, which will begin at Gerety Hall’s lawn at 2 p.m. This walk is an opportunity to come together as a Salve Regina community and take a peaceful walk around campus promoting the University’s mission statement and advocating for equality.

SAAC’s goal is to have as many safely distanced members of the Salve Regina community participating in this walk as possible. There will also be 75 “Be the Change” Salve Regina t-shirts that have been donated that will be safely passed out at the event to those who arrive first, so please arrive promptly in order to receive one.

There will be guest speakers before the actual walk begins to advocate for the cause of diversity and inclusion. Once the speakers are done, participants will silently walk across campus using a designated route that has been agreed upon with The Office of Safety and Security.

Instead of raising voices, participants are encourage to bring a sign with a meaningful message. Members of the media will be there to document the event.

“This is going to be a silent and peaceful walk,” said Boutoussov. “Salve is a very inclusive community that promotes a world that is harmonious, just and merciful, and this walk is going to do just that.”

Featured photo is from a Black Lives Matter march held in 2019 on Salve Regina’s campus.