How to Get Involved in Social Justice

If you’re passionate about taking action for positive change, you’ll have many opportunities at St. Edward’s.

Being an advocate for social justice is at the heart of the St. Edward’s experience, in the classroom, on campus and beyond. Here, we share five resources and activities our students engage in that support diversity, equity and inclusion — a guiding commitment of our Holy Cross mission that’s deeply important to us all.

The image shows a group of individuals sitting at what appears to be a public event or gathering. In the foreground, there is an individual with long hair dyed in two tones, blonde and red, wearing a white t-shirt with some black text or design on it. This person is clapping their hands. There are other attendees in the background who also seem to be clapping or engaged in the event.

Connecting with Communities

St. Edward’s is home to 100+ student organizations. Among them are many groups that build community and support diversity and inclusion, such as the Asian Student Association, Black Student Alliance, Latinx Student Leaders, PRIDE, Monarchs on the Hilltop and Student Veterans Association. Joining these groups is a great way to meet new friends, gain leadership skills, make a positive impact and have fun working toward common goals! A great way to get started is to visit the Fall Involvement Fair in September to meet the organizations and learn more! You can also visit our career affinity pages that bring together community members with similar backgrounds and interests. The groups share resources, advice and opportunities tailored to your goals and experience. Campus affinities include First-Generation Students, Students with Disabilities, Student Athletes and International Students, to name a few.

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Creating Dialogue and Celebrating Diversity

The Equity and Justice Council (EJC) is a student organization sponsored by Student Diversity and Inclusion that hosts events and discussions on campus around identity and equality, and action-oriented allyship. Last year’s events and webinars included the First-Gen Summit, Conchas and Coffee, Women's History Month Panel, Queer Student Welcome, The Baile, and Black Expo. Play a role in supporting social justice and making a difference. Get involved with EJC, and make your voice heard!

The image features a book titled "HOW THE WORD IS PASSED" by Clint Smith. The cover, set against a red background with circular cut-outs, displays white and yellow text. The subtitle reads "A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America." This book delves into significant historical themes related to American slavery. It's a thought-provoking work that explores the impact of slavery across the nation.

Reckoning with the History of Slavery

Every year, St. Edward’s chooses a Common Theme that guides programming and discussions across campus. Incoming students discuss the theme in their Freshman Seminar and attend events related to the theme. For Fall 2022, we're excited that our community is reading the #1 New York Times bestseller How The Word is Passed by Clint Smith, which explores the history of slavery across America. Smith goes on a journey throughout the United States, providing readers with an understanding of how deeply slavery and its legacy continue to shape American life. As part of this year’s theme, students and faculty participated in a Black Austin Tour through the heart of downtown. Hilltoppers learned about the history of the Black experience in Austin and the significant contributions African Americans have made to the city.

The image depicts a small white church with a red door and steeple. Trees surround the building, and two people walk past on the sidewalk. The church sign is partially visible. It's a serene scene, perhaps captured on a sunny day.

Honoring All Faiths

Campus Ministry supports students of all spiritualities and faith traditions through prayer, retreats, service and social justice experiences, while also serving our Catholic students. Hilltoppers are encouraged to reflect on their faith and what it means to them as well as the faith of others in a local and global context. In collaboration with Student Involvement, there are also faith-based student organizations to take part in, such as the Muslim Student Association.

The image depicts two individuals sitting across from each other at a table. The person on the right appears to be gesturing with clasped hands, suggesting a conversation or discussion. The setting seems to be indoors, possibly an office or casual meeting space, with shelves and office supplies in the background.

Supporting Mental and Emotional Health

Navigating college life can be stressful, and even more so if you’re faced with social-identity pressures around race, gender, sexual identity, disabilities or religious beliefs. The Health & Counseling Center offers individual counseling sessions, workshops and support groups for different experiences students might have. Take advantage of these important resources. Past support groups and workshops have focused on students of color, LGBTQA+, improving low self-esteem, stress management, overcoming social anxiety and dealing with challenging families.