The Department of Italian Studies is committed to creating and sustaining a sense of belonging for all its members. Just as our program’s intellectual imperative is to consider Italy as a place and a cultural construct that must be situated with respect to multiple perspectives, in our research and teaching we strive to open new spaces of inquiry and inclusivity by interrogating histories of race, gender, class, and power across the long cultural trajectory of Italy from the medieval to now.
Long-standing structural inequalities have kept some groups from full participation in our field, and these have persisted in narrowing the scope of defining Italian identity and cultural practice. We are united in our determination to redress such inequalities, while establishing a vision for the future that places multiplicity and heterogeneity at the core of our collective pursuits.
Our department affirms its dedication to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, as articulated by the university’s Principles of Community. We denounce and do not tolerate discrimination, bias, or violence of any kind. We insist upon justice and equality for all, affirming that we are made stronger by a diverse community. Indeed, the department valorizes the intrinsic connection between diversity and excellence, and seeks to create an environment in which all those who are invested in studying the languages, literatures, and cultures of (and through) Italy are able to see themselves reflected in our curriculum.
We recognize that the work of fostering equity and belonging is an ongoing endeavor and commit ourselves to continuing these efforts so that we may move further toward our goal of a more inclusive community and discipline, and toward a more just world.