Diversity, equity and inclusion programs have popped up throughout California, and Delta is no exception.
S.P.A.R.K, or Student Protection, for Advocacy, Resources and Knowledge, was founded this semester to address concerns regarding the Trump administration passing discriminatory laws targeting minorities. It was established to tackle critical issues regarding undocumented students and other vulnerable minorities on campus.
“That is truly our goal. We want our students to know that in the state of California, we believe in education for all. And all means all,” Adriana Brogger, a Digital Media Professor and the co-writer of the S.P.A.R.K. charter, said.
While Delta already has Equity Action Task Forces for Black, Asian Pacific, Chicanx/Latinx and LGBTQ+ students, S.P.A.R.K. was set up to address more immediate concerns in these programs, which is currently supporting undocumented and transgender students.
The objective is to “significantly reduce equity gaps”, “meet student basic needs”, and “promote student health, wellness, and safety”, according to the Equity Action Task Force Team Charter. One of their stated goals is to “reduce the percentage reporting basic needs insecurity from 60% to 40%” by fall of 2027.
This has resulted in the collaboration of S.P.A.R.K and the Dreamers Success Center to conduct a Know Your Rights campaign on campus. This is part of a wider campaign to protect undocumented students, as Delta has been a Sanctuary Campus since last December.
“When we do not take time to understand context, or fact check, like how does this impact me and the real impact this is going to have on my immediate — like right now, then I think that that can create a lot of panic and a lot of stress,” Brogger said.
This includes hosting events to educate students on their rights and passing out Know Your Rights cards, which students can hand over to the police. The card states the students’ rights under the fourth and fifth amendments.
There will be Know Your Rights videos training videos that will be coming out campus wide, as well as training of staff and faculty on how they can best protect vulnerable students.
A student ambassador program may be opened on campus under the Equity Action Task Force in the future.
Due to cuts to federal diversity, equity, and inclusion funding, Delta is looking towards state and grant funds to cover the costs, according to Brogger.
