Cliff-Simon Vital hired as director of Unity Center

By Kaeleigh Banda, Staff Writer • September 28, 2025

Cliff-Simon Vital, former interim director of the BIPOC Unity Center, has been appointed as permanent director of the renamed Unity Center. The center has not had a permanent director in almost two years.

Ithaca College investigated for alleged racial discrimination in scholarships

By Kaeleigh Banda and Eamon Corbo • March 27, 2025

In a March 14 press release, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights announced that over 50 colleges and universities, including Ithaca College, are under investigation for alleged racial discrimination.

IC among six schools under investigation for alleged impermissible race-based scholarships

By Eamon Corbo and Kaeleigh Banda • March 14, 2025

The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights announced in a March 14 press release that it will be investigating over 50 colleges and universities across the country, including Ithaca College, for alleged racial discrimination.

Angela Davis speaks to IC about social justice

By Kaeleigh Banda and Julian DeLucia • February 6, 2025

Angela Davis –– an author, political activist and professor –– spoke Feb. 4 in Ford Hall for a conversation event titled, “We Are Because They Were: An Evening with a Living Ancestor.” Over 600 people filled the concert hall and over 700 people watched the livestream. 

IC BIPOC Unity Center continues expanding services despite staffing changes

By Kaeleigh Banda, Staff Writer • February 4, 2025

Ithaca College’s BIPOC Unity Center shared its staff coverage plan for Spring 2025. Cliff-Simon Vital, former associate director of the BIPOC Unity Center, is now the interim director of the center after Shadayvia Wallace, former associate director of the BIPOC Unity Center and program director of the MLK Scholar program, left the college at the end of Fall 2024. 

BIPOC retreat crowns students with confidence in their natural hair

By Mila Ventura-Rodriguez, Staff writer • October 10, 2024

Taughannock Falls room was packed with students murmuring amongst themselves Sept. 28. It was a gray and cloudy Saturday, but inside there was a spectrum of bright, eye-catching colors. A wide variety of hairstyles populated the conference room, including braids, twists, afros, straight hair and wigs, all with different colors and adorned with charms and accessories.

Editorial: College must focus search for BIPOC Unity Center director

By The Ithacan • September 11, 2024

While the current staff of Ithaca College’s BIPOC Unity Center do an admirable job, the postponement of the college’s search for a director is endemic of many community-based issues in Ithaca — the options for support fall consistently on the same leaders, who can be stretched thin by the responsibilities with which they are tasked. Both the students they serve and the leaders themselves deserve an attitude of increased urgency from administration.

BIPOC Unity Center pauses search for director, focuses on fortifying existing leadership

By Prakriti Panwar, News Editor • September 11, 2024

Ithaca College’s BIPOC Unity Center has not yet hired a permanent director since undergoing a name change in Spring 2023 and a merger with the First-Generation and MLK Scholar Center in Spring 2024. However, it now has the largest staff it has had since before the changes. At this time, the center plans to focus on intersectional programming to continue engaging students meaningfully.

Editorial: Thoughtfulness is key to BIPOC Unity Center Merge

By The Ithacan • March 7, 2024

The First Generation and MLK Scholar programs have recently merged with the BIPOC Unity Center given the overlapping identities and events between these programs. While this has the potential to be beneficial and allow for more stream-lined, efficient programming, the center must ensure that it also maintains a nuanced perspective when it comes to supporting students, especially students of color. 

First-Gen, MLK Scholar and BIPOC Unity Center programs merge after recognizing overlap in student need

By Jacquelyn Reaves and Ryan Johnson • March 6, 2024

At the beginning of Spring 2024, the Ithaca College First-Generation and MLK Scholar Center merged with the BIPOC Unity Center to recognize the overlap with students who use both centers’ resources. 

BIPOC Unity Center announces student committee to assist in search for next director

By Ryan Johnson, Senior Writer • January 31, 2024

The BIPOC Unity Center at Ithaca College is looking for student representatives to serve on a committee that will help find the next director for the center. The call for student representatives was announced Jan. 31 in an IC Engage post made by Cliff-Simon Vital, assistant director of the BIPOC Unity Center. 

Students and administration discuss impact of BIPOC Unity Center staff departures

By Kai Lincke, Community Outreach Manager • December 6, 2023

Ithaca College held a processing session Nov. 30 for BIPOC students to ask questions and share their concerns with college administrators and staff members about the departure of Angélica Carrington, former director of the BIPOC Unity Center.