Hello, Maroon reader!
This page summarizes the results of our second annual staff survey. Click here to see last year’s survey results.
In spring 2024, we asked our staff their demographics to (1) track the diversity of our staff and (2) gather specific information about our staff’s years at the Maroon, majors, and interests. These goals serve a dual purpose: to hold the Maroon accountable for its efforts in making the paper welcoming to those of all backgrounds and to share more about ourselves with those outside our organization. Additionally, this information will be used to benefit future Maroon leaders and for recruiting events.
All survey questions were reviewed by the Maroon’s DEI Board and were completely anonymous.
Answers left blank or of the form “Prefer not to disclose” or “Unsure” were omitted. Also, some open-ended answers were unclear or difficult to categorize, and, due to the survey’s anonymity, we were unable to follow up with the respondent to clarify. In these cases, we did our best to understand what the respondent meant and adjusted the existing categories as needed.
Academics
Our data show that Maroon staffers come from all over the College and other parts of the University.
The Maroon is comprised of undergraduates from all four years of study and all four divisions in the College. Undergraduate Maroon staffers study a variety of topics, not exclusively those traditionally adjacent to journalism.
Race, Ethnicity, and Language
Maroon staffers come from a variety of different racial and ethnic backgrounds.
Beyond English, Maroon staffers speak languages from around the world.
Geography and Citizenship
Many Maroon staffers are, or are recently descended from, immigrants to the United States and live in various community settings.
High School Background
Maroon staffers went to many types of high schools across the country and the world.
Gender and Sexual Identity
Gender and sexuality are two important axes of identity. Staffers were provided an open-ended option when asked about their identities.
Disability Status
Accessibility is important to the Maroon, and having representation among disabled groups can help us become more accessible to our staffers and readers.
Socioeconomic Status
By asking staffers about their socioeconomic status, the Maroon seeks to understand how we can make our organization more inclusive and accessible.
Relationship to the Maroon
Maroon staffers who have been in the organization for several years have likely seen a variety of internal structures and ideas as leadership changes year to year. We ask this question to understand the collective experience staffers can share.
Beyond the Maroon, many staffers are involved in one or more RSOs.
Many students join activities that will help them secure jobs in the future. We ask this question to understand how the Maroon fits into those goals and how we can help our staffers’ professional development.
The Maroon is a large, diverse organization representing a variety of perspectives and experiences. Here, we wanted to learn how our staffers understand the Maroon as a whole.
