Task force explores diversity issues
Campus Times
November 8, 1996
The name of the Diversity Task Force at the University of La Verne was changed
Oct. 21 to the Coalition for Diversity, and with the new name comes a change
in leadership.
Dr. Richard Rose, assistant professor of religion and philosophy and a diversity
consultant, is the new co-chair of the committee, along with Dr. Mary Prieto-Bayard,
assistant professor of behavioral science.
"My understanding is when they developed the President's Committee
on Diversity, it had a limited life span and this one is to have a longer
life span. The President [Dr. Stephen Morgan], wanted the faculty members
to begin taking a more active leadership role with issues of diversity here
on campus," said Dr. Rose.
A written statement by the Coalition for Diversity states, "The committee's
mandate and commitment is to address a whole host of issues related to diversity
at ULV in a proactive, creative and assertive manner. One of our tasks will
be to review all proposals submitted and to decide on grant awards."
"We have recently developed four separate committees which will speak
to address issues of diversity and inclusiveness," said Dr. Rose.
Those four subcommittees cover quality of life concerns and student advocacy
and redress; coordination of campus resources, services and activities;
coordination of external resources and information; and academic curriculum
and teaching concerns.
At the last meeting, the members chose which subcommittees they wished to
be on. No chair of the subcommittees have been elected as of yet.
There are currently 20 committee members, who meet once a month.
Dr. Rose said, "We are really in the process of forming our new mission
statement. We are seeking to foster a community which is inclusive, where
individuals feel comfortable expressing their cultural distinctiveness and
we plan to do that through dialogues, special events and addressing current
events as they arise."
Among the current plans for the committee is publishing a monthly calendar
of events to deal with diversity to make sure the entire campus community
is aware of current activities, such as specific speakers.
ULV received a $65,000 grant from the James Irvine Foundation last semester
to foster diversity efforts on campus. The funds are to be allocated over
the next three years.
There are three major components that the grant is reaching to achieve --
increasing the retention and graduation rates of first generation minority
students, increasing the number of ethnic minority full time faculty members
and engaging the faculty in the area of diversity at ULV and in Southern
California.
Further, ULV and the Irvine Foundation have agreed on five goals on which
to spend the funds.
The first goal is "to engage the faculty in professional development
on and off campus, resulting in the faculty becoming more aware of cultural
differences between themselves and the student body and between the various
student populations. Also, to train the faculty in new and more effective
methods of cross-cultural communication."
Secondly, funds will be spent "to engage faculty in utilizing their
research skills in order to effectively document the impact of the first
generation minority student retention and family engagement program."
Third, "To engage faculty in utilizing their research skills to better
understand the nature of Southern California's cultural pluralism and what
will be necessary to promote a fully functioning community."
The fourth goal is "to support the faculty in developing curriculum
which actively integrates the University Mission and Tenet statements on
diversity into the classroom."
Earlier this semester, the Coalition requested proposals from faculty members
for ideas for incorporating a range of diversity issues into the curriculum.
The last goal is "to engage staff and students in learning more about
cultural differences between themselves and those of different ethnicities,
cultures and orientations, and to finding ways to promote a positive campus
environment."
The Coalition for Diversity also deals with specific instances of alleged
discrimination, such as last semester's attack of a gay student by two members
of the baseball team.
"Last semester when there was the issue of the baseball team harassing
the gay student, the diversity committee worked with students on the rally.
When the Rodney King issue happened, the Diversity Task Force met to discuss
the different issues involved and how the different cultures and committees
were dealing with the different verdicts in order to ease tension here on
campus," said Dr. Rose.