When music teacher Francisco Dean saw disruptive and unrelated comments being placed in the chat at the first-day-of-school assembly on Sept. 8, he was motivated to request a joint initiative between students and faculty. 

This resulted in a new school culture committee, which has already formed with some Student Council members and which other students may apply to join by submitting the application form.

A few students stayed back after that first assembly, and Mr. Dean asked them how they would react if they saw two people in a physical altercation in the hallway. 

“We would disapprove immediately right? Try to stop it to the best of our ability,” Cultural Union President Noor Asad said. “Well, that’s the way it should be for issues of diversity, equity and inclusivity.”

The committee was established to bring together students from all grades to discuss how conversations are conducted and how issues are addressed at Lab.

According to Junior Class President Brent Pennington, the new initiative plans to guide the process of managing respectful and productive meetings between students and faculty.

Noor said she joined the committee because improving DEI has always been a passion and, through Student Council, a responsibility. 

According to Noor, Lab needs to combat these issues head on. The committee hopes to address issues related to DEI, improving mental health, and create change within the student body by constructively becoming a more accepting and inclusive community.

Noor said, “It should be a matter of our immediate resolution or collectively disapprove of people being racist, homophobic, xenophobic, etc.”