Saint Joseph’s University’s social focus has welcomed more conversation about diversity in the past few years.

The Day of Dialogue diversity day and workshops started in spring of 2020. The Banner system was updated in 2021 to allow preferred names and pronouns to be displayed on student and faculty profiles, and students came together to counter-protest bigoted groups that shouted across from Villiger parking lot in 2019.

The now turning season brings October, also known as Unity Month to St. Joe’s. SJU Pride, in partnerships with several university departments and the Alliance, promotes a full month of LGBTQIA+ visibility on campus involving spiritual, political and individual aspects to continue to provide “a safe and accepting climate [full of] mutual understanding and respect, acceptance and inclusiveness.”

The second floor of Post Learning Commons, before the windows that face Barbelin Hall, hosts a small exhibit detailing the history of Unity Month, from its origins of Rainbow Week to Unity Week, and now, Unity Month. The flyers for talks, masses, an AIDS Quilt, performances and schedules are bolstered by the displayed letter from university librarian Evelyn Minick. She writes of God’s love for all of us, despite her tendency toward a “menu approach to the Church.” But that is the underlying drive behind organizations like SJU Pride and the Alliance.

Love comes from acceptance. Love comes from compassion. Love comes from understanding. The shared objective information presented and personal stories told may not all be joyous and happy during Unity Month. However, knowing the full story leads to understanding. Understanding a person or a population leads to empathy and compassion. Oftentimes, that compassion leads to acceptance of the humanity within that person. The acceptance of one’s humanity leads to love.

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