The Lewis and Gaines Center for Inclusion and Equity (LGCIE - Legacy) encourages equity and promotes the celebration of cultural pluralism at Bridgewater State University. LGCIE strives to create a community that appreciates the history, culture and traditions of underserved students, and believes in the positive relationship between multiculturalism and student achievement. LGCIE also fosters cross-divisional collaborations that assist with the retention of BSU students.
A New Name for a Renewed Mission
On Sept. 24, 2020, the Bridgewater State University Board of Trustees approved the renaming of the Center for Multicultural Affairs to the Lewis and Gaines Center for Inclusion and Equity. This name change reflects our deep commitment to racial equity and our relentless determination to close achievement gaps. The change also formally recognizes the renewed mission of the Center for Multicultural Affairs and celebrates two of our most esteemed alumni.
The change from Multicultural Affairs to Inclusion and Equity better reflects the mission of the Center by underscoring the focus on student success and by ensuring that all students — one student at a time — have access to the resources and supports they need to persist, graduate and reach their highest potential.
Honoring Legacies
Multicultural Affairs Center renamed after two Bridgewater leaders
The Center of Multicultural Affairs officially has a new name, the Lewis and Gaines Center for Inclusion and Equity (or LGCIE, pronounced “legacy”).
A new name does not affect the center’s mission, which has always been to provide a place of support for Bridgewater State University students who need it.
The change does, however, better reflect what the center is all about, said Director Sydné Marrow.
“For a few years now, I’ve wanted to rename the Center of Multicultural Affairs because of the ways in which we engage in this work and that was not evident in the brand,” she said. “We offer a safe space for students of color, but we believe in inclusion. My job is to not only reach students of color, but all students.”
When Paul Gaines, G’68 died in June 2020, BSU lost a member of our community who did as much to advance racial justice on our campus as anyone in our history. He devoted decades of his life to advancing equality and equity for all and changed fundamentally and forever the entire culture of BSU. When he was appointed our first director of minority affairs in 1968, there were 11 students of color enrolled at Bridgewater. Paul laid the groundwork for making BSU the diverse institution it is today with 25 percent students of color.
