other , adopted some of each other ’ s practices , adapted their own customs to changing circumstances while maintaining certain traditions , and to a considerable extent respected each other ’ s differences .
This joining together of two distinct people for the harvest festival and future collaboration mirrors the joining together of the Saints and Strangers through the Mayflower Compact less than a year before the first Thanksgiving . The Mayflower Compact united people of different faiths , backgrounds , and customs into a cohesive community , creating a system of governance based on principles of relatively democratic participation in government , along with an explicit commitment to justice and equality . Both the Thanksgiving feast and the Mayflower Compact represent the coming together of diverse groups in an inclusive manner to learn from , support , celebrate , and share with one another , enriching the lives of everyone in the community .
Julia Ernst , far left , enjoying Thanksgiving dinner at the Plimoth Patuxet Museum .
Building Strategies for Belonging .” In her keynote address , Dr . Karen Crawford Simms highlighted UND ’ s philosophy , which expresses important values that build upon the benefits engendered by our remarkable diversity :
In many ways , the first Thanksgiving and the Mayflower Compact serve as models for our University of North Dakota ( UND ) School of Law and the broader UND community . UND students originate from all 50 states and 97 countries , and about 24 % report non-white ethnic heritage . UND welcomes military and veteran students , students with disabilities , students from varied socioeconomic backgrounds , nontraditional students , and students of all sexual orientations and gender identities . Our students bring a myriad of experiences ; hail from rural , urban , and suburban settings ; practice a multiplicity of religions and beliefs ; and express a full range of viewpoints .
The UND School of Law reflects this vast array of diversity , and the state of North Dakota manifests increasing diversity , as well . According to the 2020 census , our state has welcomed an additional 106,000 neighbors since the census in 2010 , thanks largely to people of color choosing North Dakota as their home . 4 The “ Grand Forks Herald ” reports : “ About 17 % of North Dakota ’ s population identified as a race other than white in the latest Census – the most in any official count since statehood – while a record 4.3 % of residents claimed Hispanic origin .” 5
1 . Love your people and take good care of them . 2 . We are always here for our students . 3 . Treat everyone in our campus and our community with dignity , kindness and respect . 4 . We should take every opportunity to learn and this should also help us develop a stronger sense of humility . 5 . Everyone is great at something and the role of the university should be to tap into that greatness .
Adhering to these principles will enable our community to ensure our diversity remains one of our greatest assets and help us leverage it to bring even greater benefits to our state and region .
This fall , faculty , staff , and administrators from colleges and universities throughout North Dakota are reading “ Diversity ’ s Promise for Higher Education : Making it Work .” The author , Daryl Smith , highlights the importance of “ the direct link between diversity and the health and well-being of democracy ,” including our fundamental values of “ judicial process , free speech , privacy , and other fundamental rights .” 6 Smith notes , “ higher education
Last year , President Andrew Armacost established the UND Task Force for Diversity and Inclusion to recommend ways in which our community can build upon the tremendous strengths such diversity cultivates . For example , UND ’ s Fall Innovative Learning Symposium explored the theme of “ Inclusion Across Campus :
FALL 2021 15