CODRE

Minutes 10-10-08

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Present: Michael Anthony, Michael ben-Avraham, Rhonda Buchanan, Brian Buford, Vaquita Doss Bunton, Valerie Browning, Joy Carew, Pamela Feldhoff, Demetrius Gray, Vicki Hines-Martin, Harvey Johnson, Irving Joshua, Sharon LaRue, Ron Lile, Linda Lewis, Weiling Liu, David Owen, Charles Sharp, Prafula Sheth, Mary Ann Stenger, Mordean Taylor-Archer, Diane Whitlock, Andrew Williams, Guest(s): Anshu Anand, Channell Barbour

Absent: James, Brown,Joan D’Antoni, Nannette Dix, Robin Harris, Erica Holloman, OJ Oleka, Georgette Moore, Kathy Pendleton, John Ralston, Linda L. Wilson and Wei Bin Zeng

Minutes: September 12, 2008. A motion to approve the minutes from the September 12 meeting was made and seconded. The motion passed after vote.

New Business

  • Budget Update: Dr. Hines-Martin reported that student research funding is now in place for Graduate and Undergraduate initiatives. Further elaborations on this topic will be made during committee reports by Irving who will talk about the criteria for each level. CODRE currently has been awarded $5,000 from the GraduateSchool, $1,000 for SignaturePartnerships; and there is a $6,000 commitment from the Office of the EVPR. The $6,000 is for undergraduate student research.
  • Campus Climate Update: Dr. Taylor-Archer reported a number of concerns, one of which was several white race-themed flyers posted at Davidson Hall. [The content of the flyerwas read to the Commission]. It was noted that the CODRE EC met and discussed an appropriate response to leaflets of this type. It was decided that a statement of reaffirmation [Diversity Vision Statement] of what the University stands for was the best way to handle this situation. Added to the Diversity Statement was phrasing that “we do not condone hate speech or acts of intolerance that underlie forms of oppression, racism, sexism, homophobia or discrimination, against those who have been disenfranchised; that we will commit to eradicating all forms of inequality and injustices by building a just, fair and inclusive campus community.” Other discussion regarding the flyers focused on:
  • What other locations the flyers had been found;
  • Placing the CODRE/Office of the Vice Provost statement in UofL Today, SGA News, The Cardinal, etc.;
  • Was there any way to identify who had posted the flyers, i.e. by camera;

Also addressed: Dr. Taylor-Archer also reported that the Provost sent out a statement relative to diversity of thought in response to an email that had been sent [to the Provost] and to Dr. Taylor-Archer.

Dr. Taylor-Archer is currently in the process of forming the Campus Climate team. The following have been asked to serve: The Faculty grievance officer; Staff grievance officer, Dean of Kent School, the Ombudsperson, etc. Once the list is finalized, Dr. Taylor-Archer will bring the names to the CODRE Chair and Vice Chair.

Chair’s Report

Chair Hines-Martin informed the Commission that she wrote a letter to the Provost thanking her for coming to the September CODRE meeting and for answering very controversial questions. Note: Georgette is out today due to death in her family but will get the letter out when she returns.

The Chair followed-up on discussion started by Dr. Taylor-Archer. Chair Hines-Martinnoted that she had received corresponded from a CODRE commissioner that identified a statement made by the President in the Courier Journal[paraphrased as], “let’s not let the Indians take over the reservation.” The article came out in the newspaper well after it became known that it occurred within the University. The statement looked as if it were new information that had not been addressed, when in fact some steps had been taken to address it. The President has apologized to the people to whom he addressed (College of Education faculty) and also to the Faculty Senate relating that the statement as inappropriate. The correspondence [by the CODRE commissioner] to Chair Hines-Martin prompted what should CODRE do in response to the statement. Because the two events had already taken place, the Executive Committee could not identify what would be beneficial by revisiting the incident or what could be asked of the President as an additional step. Other discussion in relation to this topic included:

  • Chair Hines-Martin was asked if she could find out when the apology was made and to whom. Also, if it included staff and students.
  • A suggestion was made that an apology should be made to the University’s American Indian faculty, staff and student population.
  • Another comment suggested that as the statement was made publicly, the apology should have also been made publicly, and not only to the COE/and the [Faculty] Senate.
  • A commissioner at today’s meeting reported being present when the apology was made and stated that the Provost also apologized. They spent the entire time addressing the issue of the inappropriateness of the statement. The senators present seemed satisfied and discussed it openly with the President.
  • Another thought the way to address the matter might be to focus on the “teachable moment” than ask for another apology. Perhaps the President could be asked to attend NCORE (National Conference on Race and Ethnicity in American Higher Ed). The meetings occur annually at the end of May. There are too few senior leaders who attend these conferences.
  • CODRE should develop something that could be presented to the University that would reemphasize sensitivity and perhaps ask the President to kick it off to impress awareness at the University.

Chair’s Summation: To support the role of CODRE—looking at ways CODRE can enhance campus environment so that others see that incident as impetus for betterment of the community.

Proposal:

  • Have Diversity Programming and Campus Environment come together and develop an educational type of endeavor that target words that hurt/harm and say here’s what we need to do to support a positive climate. Then when CODRE meets with the President in December we can say,‘we were concerned about the statement but as a result of that concern we’ve taken some positive action. Can we get your support of that positive action?’

The consensus of the Commission was that the Chair, Vice Chair and Dr. Taylor-Archer meet with the President to advise him of the discussion that took place in the meeting today and ask his advice on what he would like the Commission to do.

Presentation on the Cultural Center

Michael Anthony, Interim Director, of the CulturalCenter addressed the Commission on the following:

  • History of the Cultural Center. In 1969 UofL had an Office of Black Affairs; 1982/Office of Minority Affairs; 2002/Minority Academic Enrichment Program. This year a more inclusive unit is in place in the CulturalCenter.
  • The Center’s Mission;
  • Goals;
  • Values;
  • Research and Assessment;
  • Cultural Center Organization Information;
  • Successes;
  • Organizations under the Cultural Center;
  • and Campus Partners;
  • Will soon have open house.

Cultural Center Calendar of Events

  • 10/15/08Hosting w/BFSA “Presidential Election” – 11:30 a.m. Cultural Center
  • 11/07/08International Fashion Show
  • End of November a major discussion called “What Did You Just Say?” exploring the difficulty of conversation when talking about differences.
  • Also Ted Wise’sWhite Privilege lectures co-sponsored by ABS

Collaborations are always welcome; new input, feedback and support is welcome. Anthony can be reached at Handouts of M. Anthony’s outline were disseminated. Anthony will send a copy to Georgette to mail to Commissioners not present today.

Chair Hines-Martin will see that the COSW Update is circulated to CODRE. Sharon LaRue had to leave. Other committees who were not able to present should also submit a written report as there was not ample time to discuss them today.

Faculty/Staff Concerns – CODRE/EVPR, et. al grants: Dr. Joshua reported on CODRE grant initiatives and circulated three (3) items to the Commission:

  • University of Louisville President’s Commission on Diversity and Racial EqualityGraduate Student Grant Opportunities; initiative will be focused on support of UofL graduate student research that targets populations which are the focus of the commission – diverse, underserved, under-represented and/or vulnerable populations.
  • University of Louisville President’s Commission on Diversity and Racial Equality and the Office of the EVPR Undergraduate Student Grant Opportunities; this funding initiative will be focused on support of UofL undergraduate student research that targets populations which are the focus of the commission – diverse, underserved, under-represented and/or vulnerable populations.
  • Signature Partnership Initiative Grant For Graduate Students (SPIGGS)

Application materials are being asked to be submitted to the Commissions Office by Wednesday, April 1, 2009 so that by the May meeting CODRE will have an opportunity to vote on them. Dr. Joshua asked the Commission to review the documents circulated today and send comments and/or suggestions to him (in a week).

Previously grant information was posted on CODRE’s website and UofL Today. Commissioners were asked to circulate the information within their departments. It was suggested today that the grant information also be posted in Student NEWS.

Meeting adjourned.

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