DLC chairwoman promotes diversity, dissects sharks

t assumed the new role as president of the Diversity Leadership Cabinet, and she said she has big plans.

Though she was born in Chicago, Baig’s family is from Hyderabad, India. Baig said her ties to her culture remain strong, and that her curiosity for different cultures grows more by the day.

“One of the great things about my heritage is the value of family and the beauty of Indian culture and tradition,” Baig said.

“Food, clothing, music, dance, art all have developed greatly over the course of centuries, and the influence of surrounding countries is evident in them. On the other hand, it is amazing to see how other countries’ traditions have been affected by Indian culture, too.”

A biology and pre-medical major, Baig said she came to SLU, “wanting to try something different.”

Therefore, upon arriving at SLU, Baig joined the Filipino Student Association, where she served as secretary her sophomore year. Baig said that, soon, FSA became her family. It was not until her junior year that Baig said she decided to join the Diversity Leadership Cabinet.

“The DLC is important to me because each little initiative we start becomes widespread really fast,” Baig said.

The DLC serves as the student voice for diversity and social justice concerns on campus. The organization is made up of various representatives from the different ethnic and social justice groups within campus, and strives to promote diversity and social justice awareness.

The basic initiative that the DLC wishes to represent on campus is to display respect and appreciation for the different cultures and ethnic groups on campus.

“This year, my goal is to bring the definition of diversity to mean more than a difference in race or ethnicity. Diversity actually encompasses every difference between every student,” Baig said. “No matter how big or small that difference, respect is going to be addressed to each person.”

Baig said her new plans consist of a Student Creed, which she has revised and edited along with Student Government Association President Courtney Anvender.

“The Creed was something that we felt we needed last year. Some students mentioned there was no sense of ritual or ceremonial pledge of entrance into the University, and many organizations have their pledge to enter as a member of that organization. So, over the summer, I drafted a creed that I thought satisfied the need for acceptance and respect of differences, as well as called for the best character of students, kind of defining the ‘ideal’ Billiken,” Baig said.

Baig said that she and Anvender have been working on this creed over the summer and hope to finalize it soon.

She said she also wants to expand the Diversity Leadership Cabinet to make it more prevalent on campus.

Baig is also working on a video project for her organization. She has been in contact with a video company and has been striving toward creating a video that will “[showcase] and [encourage] respect for different ethnicities and cultures,” she said.

Baig said that she thinks scientific phenomena are interesting, and has been captivated by the field since junior high. Baig said she decided to study biology and pre-medicine and that she enjoys the learning experiences that have been available to her through her major.

“Right now, I’m dissecting sharks in my anatomy class, and over the summer I went spelunking every other day in my cave biology class,” Baig said.

“I wouldn’t trade this experience for anything.”

After graduation, Baig plans to attend medical school and is seeking to become a pediatrician because she said she loves working with children.

When she is not studying, Baig enjoys making music, visiting the tennis court and hitting the dance floor to show off her hip-hop skills. She also said she is learning to play classical piano with a little help from her roommate.