NDSU: Diversity Council

Diversity Council ::: Meeting Minutes ::: October 8, 2004

Present: Berry, Burnett, Eichenberger, Ewert, Holbrook, Kamel, Kitch, Larson, Okigbo, Taylor, Schnell, Stack, Trautman, and Wallette.

I. Announcements

A. Level II anti-racism training Nov. 4 (evening) and all day November 5-6 (15 NDSU people signed up)**If others are interested, contact Sandy ASAP

B. Level I training (4 NDSU people attended)

C.Two conferences this fall:
Keeping our Faculties III Symposium, November 18-20 at U of MN
People of Color in Predominantly White Institution, November 15-16, U. of NE-Lincoln (If Council members are interested in attending either conference, contact Sandy)

D.Mix it up for lunch - November 16, 2004

Great project, takes coordination. Nothing formal on campus this fall. More info at www.mixitup.org

E.Recent campus and community incidents

The incidents include: concrete in front of Union with hate language and symbols, hate symbol on bus stop bench, hate language spray paint in an alley near campus, hate symbols on stickers in Union, desecration at local mosque

Discussion of a neo-Nazi group in MN distributing 100,000 CD's to youth

President, University, Staff and Student Senate Presiden'ts message came out forcefully against the incidents

Diversity will be discussed in State of the University address

A "Sit in for Hate" will be held on 10/8/04 near South Engineering (update, about 100 people attended)

II.Finalize draft of strategic plan

*Identified most important action steps for each component for presentation/publicity purposes

*Will have handout for groups/campus forums

*Sign-up circulated for campus groups; two open forums will also be held
--Suggestion to present to college faculty members
--To add groups not on sign-up, contact sandy

*Sandy will work on a PowerPoint presentation (12-15 slides) and get presenters together

*Suggested presentation outline
--History (how we got to this point, survey, etc.)
--Development of action steps
--Outline 5 components of strategic plan
--Depending on the group, either highlights from each area or concentrate on commponent(s) most related to group
--Assessment and accountability measures

*Article will be in "It's Happening" and full draft as a PDF on the Diversity Council website

*Dan Ewert mentioned that he is in contact with companies with federal contracts; there are opportunities for exploration because companies are interested in diversity efforts due to changing demographics

*Ann Burnett and Kara Stack volunteered to edit the strategic plan with Sandy

III.Other subcommittee reports

A.Subcommittee to explore policy options related to maternity/parental leave for 9-10 month faculty

No report; will meet on October 19, 2004, at 11 a.m.

B.Subcommittee on bigotry response plan

Have not met, will be soon; a community member has joined subgroup

Have information on joint Hate/Bias Crime and Incident Response and Prevention Plan information from Fargo Human Relations Commission and Moorhead Human Rights Commission

C. Recruitment brochure for faculty and staff recruited nationally

Draft reviewed; suggestions made and will be given to Publication Services.

IV.Updating web page http://www.ndsu.nodak.edu/diversity

Pictures of new members - go to Publication Services 9:30-11:30 a.m. any Wednesday - ASAP

Reminder: send fall diversity-related events to amy.ochoa@ndsu.nodak.edu for calendar

Next meeting is November 5 at 10:30 a.m. in University Chamber (joint meeting with Anti-Racism Team)

Minutes recorded by R. Kitch 10/14/04