Yesterday marked the first day of the College's newly established Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Team. 

The EDI Team – with its Lead (Matt Bullimore) and the LGBTQ+ Champion (Ewan St John Smith), Race and Equality Champion (Shruti Kapila) and Disability Champion (Jo Willmott) – will work with students, staff and fellows to broaden the range of cultures, religions and traditions at Corpus. The EDI team will advise on and organise activities and events which promote equality, diversity and inclusion, and raise consciousness of diversity and its challenges.

The EDI Team will be available, in consultation with the Senior Tutor, to support and advise the relevant JCR and MCR officers and committee members on student matters. They will also be available to offer support and advice to the Bursar and Master on staff and fellowship matters. Importantly too, they will be available to discuss (confidentially) any issue relevant to EDI will all members of the College community, and to provide appropriate peer support and personal development opportunities.   

The Master, Professor Christopher Kelly said, "The College fully embraces the broad diversity of its community and the collegiate University. It is also particularly mindful of the protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010: age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation.   

I am sure that the whole College will join me in welcoming this new initiative. The EDI team is there for the whole College community — staff, students and Fellows."

The Master has  asked that the LGBTQ+ flag should fly for the rest of the week to signify our collective collegiate commitment to EDI and the new Team. 

President of the JCR Jamie Charles welcomed the initiative, saying "The JCR is delighted by the formation of the EDI team. This commitment reflects the views of the JCR and wider college community in our mission to make Corpus a safe and inclusive space for all. We would like to thank all of those involved for supporting and educating our students and we are excited to see the team’s progress." 

MCR President Darius Kosmützky agrees, "The MCR is excited about this new initiative and we’re looking forward to working together with the EDI team to organise events and provide support for the College community! It opens up new ways of communication by setting up counterparts of our MCR EDI officers (welfare, ethnic minorities, disabled students and LGTBQ+ officers) within the College fellowship. This will lead to more focused interaction and allow Corpus to thrive as a inclusive space for everyone."

Photo, left to right: JCR President Jamie Charles, JCR Vice-President George Stokes, MCR LGBTQ+ Officer Henry North, EDI Lead Matt Bullimore, LGBTQ+ Champion Ewan St. John Smith, JCR Welfare Officer Keelan Shorten.