NDSU: Diversity Council

Diversity Council ::: Meeting Minutes ::: October 17, 2003

Present: Anderson, Boswell, Brudey, Burnett, Holbrook, Kamel, Kostecki, Nesemeier, Peterson, Schnell, Stack, Taylor, Thoennes, Trautman, Davis Wallette

I. Announcements

A. Sandy reported that a NDSU President's Diversity Council table blanket has been ordered.

B. TOCAR Level I training at NDSU is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 20. New Council members who have not yet attended were encouraged to participate. Sandy had asked Council members to provide names of potential trainees and their contact information.

C. TOCAR Level II training was scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 30, and Friday, Oct. 1. (Level III training is scheduled to be offered in late January and early February 2004.)

D. "Race: The Power of Illusion,"a three-part PBS documentary, will be screened in Century Theater on three consecutive Wednesdays: Nov. 5, 12, and 19. TOCAR Anti-racism team members have been invited to help facilitate discussions after the screening. Likewise, Diversity Council members were encouraged to attend the three sessions. (A full description of the documentary is available through the PBS website.)

E. "Race: The Power of Illusion": Kara Stack reported that the University has purchased the acclaimed and provocative documentary series on the VHS format. Council members interested in viewing the three-hour/three-tape series were encouraged to contact Kara.

F. Paul introduced Sam Robertson, one of the graduate students in the Multicultural Student Services Office. Sam briefly described a program called Mix-It-Up for lunch. "Mix-it-up" is a national effort to encourage students to break out of their peer groups for one day and mingle with students from other groups. Members of the President's Diversity Council will be invited to attend a "Mix-it-Up"Lunch to be held at the Peace Garden Room, NDSU Memorial Union, on Tuesday, Nov. 18, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

G. On the topic of planning for the coming year, Sandy asked for volunteers to work on a subcommittee to draft a Bigotry Response Plan for the campus. Karla Thoennes, Paul Boswell, Kara Stack and Craig Schnell volunteered. Sandy asked Karla to convene the group.

H. Ann Burnett reported that the subcommittee (Ann, Alan White and Jaclynn Davis Wallette) for the recruiting brochure is working on a draft and will have something to present at the November meeting.

I. Members were encouraged to provide any new information about upcoming events for the Diversity Council web page to Amy Ochoa at: aochoa@gwmail.nodak.edu. New Council members were also encouraged to have pictures taken at Publication Services so they can be added to Council's web page.

J. Cathy Anderson reported that a person from Vocational Rehabilitation would be willing to speak to the group; the group agreed to have Cathy invite him for a short presentation at our next meeting.

II.Other business

A. Next meeting: Friday, November 14, 8:00 a.m., University Chamber.