Last Wednesday, Student Government Association had a majority vote in favor of a funding bill proposed by the Office of Diversity and Inclusion. The bill would provide the additional funding needed to bring Laverne Cox to Wichita State this spring.

For anyone who does not know, Laverne Cox is the first transgender woman of color to have a leading role in a mainstream scripted television show.

Many became familiar with her after her role as Sophia on the Netflix hit series “Orange is the New Black.” Sophia was voted the fourth most influential fictional character of 2013 by TIME Magazine.

Cox is also the first transgender woman of color to produce and star in her own television show, VH1’s TRANSForm Me, which was nominated for a GLAAD Media Award.

Considering that WSU is the most diverse college campus in the state of Kansas, I say it’s about time that someone who represents underrepresented populations comes to our campus.

As a student intern for the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, I am passionate about making sure that all populations of WSU are being catered to.

SGA passing this funding bill sends a message to those underrepresented populations that they recognize the need for more diverse and cross-cultural programs on our campus.

Cox coming to campus is crucial because not only does she represent those underrepresented populations, but she can also give insight and education to people who do not fall into those populations.

That is what’s so exciting about this event. You get the entertainment aspect because of her career as an actress and her stardom.

But then you also get this incredibly unique chance to hear the perspective of not only a transgender person, but also an African-American transgender woman.

The LGBTQ community is perhaps one of the most underrepresented as they continue to fight for equal rights and social equality. It is my belief that Cox’s presence and message may shed light to some people who do not understand her.

The truth of the matter is that we live in an ever-changing and diverse world that will require many of us to work with people from varying backgrounds and walks of life.  

You have to be able to accept and understand these people in order to communicate and work together effectively.

Supporting programs such as this is a movement in the right direction for WSU. If the university can truly foster an inclusive and diverse environment that sustains diverse and minority populations, it will be the premier college in the state of Kansas and possibly the nation.

This change will not only benefit minority students by providing them an equal chance at a collegiate education.

Other student populations will also benefit by a chance to receive an education that teaches them how work and thrive in a diverse environment.