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CORVALLIS, Ore. - President Ed Ray will host a town hall discussion on equity, inclusion and civil and social justice at Oregon State University on Monday, Feb. 29.

The discussion, aimed at students, staff and faculty, will be from 5-6 p.m. in Room 128 of the Learning Innovation Center. It will also be live streamed at http://live.oregonstate.edu.

President Ray and interim Chief Diversity Officer Angela Batista will provide an update on efforts to address diversity and inclusion at OSU. These include expanding the Leadership Council for Equity, Inclusion and Social Justice, to bring focus to university-wide planning and implementation of equity, inclusion, diversity and social justice initiatives.

The Leadership Council includes faculty, staff and students and is chaired by Brenda McComb, senior vice provost for academic affairs, and Allison Davis-White Eyes, director of Diversity and Cultural Engagement. Ray and Batista will also discuss the formation of a bias response team to provide coordinated response reports of campus-based incidents; and the effort to hire a permanent chief diversity officer.

Students, staff and faculty at the event will be able to provide input and ask questions. Scott Vignos, special assistant for strategic initiatives in the Office of Institutional Diversity, said the plan is to hold quarterly town halls to continue to inform the campus community and offer a safe space for discussion.

"The idea of the town hall emerged after conversations with students following the speak out in November," Vignos said. "It's an opportunity for campus leadership to take the temperature of the campus community and listen closely to community voices regarding issues of equity and inclusion."

Live streaming of the event will also allow OSU students and staff in Bend, Newport and Extension and Research Stations to be able to listen to the conversation.

For those unable to attend, questions regarding OSU's ongoing effort to improve equity and inclusion on campus can be addressed to the Office of Institutional Diversity at [email protected] or to Angela Batista, interim chief diversity officer, at [email protected].