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Common Agenda 2000-2001
Developing a Diversity Plan

July 11, 2000, Memorial Union

 

Developing A Diversity Plan 

Convened by: Lynne Derbyshire
Reported by: Kathleen Maher

 

Participants
Stephen Myles Robert Carothers Kendra Joaquin Nancy Hawksley
Michelle Eaker Shirley Consuegra Lynn Gaulin Cherilani Melsor
Nancy H. Kelley Joyce Dolbec Melvin Wade Chad Henderson
Bob Drapeau Jay Flanders Michalea Keegan Andrew Winters
John Steveson Michael Pelletier Jamie Bell Danielle LaChance
Jennifer Smith Sarah Cassinelli Kandice Salomone Greg Johnson
Ronald Lee Dayle Joseph Nick Ardinger Ayn Plant
Lynne Derbyshire Janie Palm Graham Bell Gregory McNab
Zak Peloquin Gail Faris Lepkowski Kathleen Maher Lou Francis

 

Problems/Issues:
  • Changing demographics
  • Need to enhance diversity and awareness/understanding of diversity on campus
  • 1992 Plan was never fully realized or embraced by the campus community, despite strong commitment/endorsement from President Carothers

 

Discussion Highlights:
  • Current draft outline appears too generic, i.e. Have efforts resulted in a "melting pot" or a "tossed salad"
  • Increasing numbers is not sufficient à change campus culture
  • Retention of faculty à welcoming climate
  • Lack of services to respond to needs of diverse campus , especially for GLBT issues
  • GLBT issues have been left off the agenda on campus. An "invisible wall" around GLBT events, not much community support even from advocates of diversity on campus.
  • The Diversity Committee needs to help the campus face its own fears.
  • Is current direction of plan inclusive of all three campuses?
  • Curriculum: only defined as course à include pedagogy
  • Third spaces: the university can act as a third space for the larger community
  • There are good examples of diversity on campus.
  • Many initiatives increase segregation while trying to create support.
  • How to have students involved in the process and decision-making.
  • Recruitment of middle-class minority students
  • Some comfort zones not yet secure, so hard to interact among groups
  • We need to have an Open Space during academic year to address diversity issues.
  • Students of color do not feel safe here; do not feel supported in taking risk of leaving comfort zone.
  • Need to respond to incidents in order to make students of color feel that it is worthwhile to make incident reports, to feel that they matter to administration. Even non-specific follow-up reporting would help. Institutional Accountability.
  • Naming names. Why isn't there a community outcry? Why can't and don't we bring offenders names into public light?
  • Faculty/student interplay
  • Mandating diversity training
  • Need to a mediation process that is less tied up in legal process. Trust. Need for advocates.
  • It's not just about supporting the oppressed, but also spreading word of zero tolerance to the majority.
  • Why don't we have a staff orientation? Great place to induct people into the environment we are shaping.
  • Importance of URI 101 for awareness training à need to make faculty reward/incentive to keep 101 alive.

 

Action Steps/Recommendations:
  • Reporting, Training…
  • For further discussion, with the University Diversity Plan as the outcome document.