Maroon Lobby Offers Inclusive Space to Gather

The Maroon Lobby in Hanson Hall offers students space to be themselves.

The Equity, Belonging, and Inclusion Hub, according to Geida Cleveland, "allows students to relax." While most currently utilize it as a study space, often in groups, they also have the option to engage in activities such as puzzles, games, or simply unwinding. 

This fall, Hanson Hall has made more room for students looking for a comfortable, inclusive atmosphere within the Carlson School. It’s named the Equity, Belonging, and Inclusion Hub, and it’s part of the new Maroon Lobby. The open, more than 1,100-square-foot space—which is shared with the Student Life and Career Design team as well as the new Center for Inclusive Excellence—is intended for Carlson School students of all ethnic backgrounds, both undergraduate and graduate, “to be their authentic self, whatever that might look like,” says Geida Cleveland, the Undergraduate Program’s director of diversity, equity, inclusion, and enrollment.

Cleveland says research shows “students from marginalized communities are more likely to experience bias and discrimination in their classrooms.” This can cause students to feel isolated, creating negative effects on academic performance. The Equity, Belonging, and Inclusion Hub “allows students to relax,” she adds. Though most currently use it as a study space (usually in groups), they can also do puzzles, play games, or just chill.

The Maroon Lobby concept began to take shape a few years ago. In the spring of 2021, Cleveland and other Carlson School diversity and inclusion team members convened focus groups with students from various backgrounds to learn about their experiences and challenges. The diversity and inclusion team began to offer programming and events to help create a sense of community within the school based on student feedback. Though the programming was well received, they were offered only a couple of hours a week. Cleveland and her colleagues wanted to do more, so they made the case to school leadership for what would become the Maroon Lobby.

A significant part of the project was funded through the Dean’s Excellence Fund. This fund “allows us to be flexible to support needs across the school as they arise,” says Megan Tenenbaum, the Carlson School’s director of annual giving. “The generosity of alumni and friends of the school directly impacts that overall experience of students and enhances our campus climate.” The Maroon Lobby fits that mission because, she says, it “has such a huge impact on students.”

Tenenbaum adds, “[The Equity, Belonging, and Inclusion Hub] is an identity-conscious space, but it’s open to any student with any identity.” Cleveland says it is intended to provide everyone, regardless of background, “the opportunity to learn from each other’s cultures and lived experiences,” which are exchanges that can help make them “better business leaders.” The space, Cleveland adds, is still evolving: “As students use the space more and more, we’ll know what their needs might be and how we can accommodate them.”