Commission on the Status of Minorities
Meeting Minutes: October 21, 2014
Call to order
Arthur Garrison called to order the regular meeting of the 2013-14 Commission on the Status of
Minorities at 11:02 am on October 21, 2014 in the third floor Psychology conference room in Old Main.
Attendance
The following persons were present:
Qin Geng-College of Business
Arthur Garrison-College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Soo Goh-College of Visual & Performing Arts
Thomas Robinson-African American Professional Organization
Jackie Fox-Office of Social Equity
Hunter Wuensche-Student Government Board
Jose A. Molina-Latino Caucus
Krista Varano-Elementary Education
Gary Chao-College of Business
The following persons were absent:
James D. Jackson-Black Faculty Caucus
Rhonda Branford-Division of Multicultural Services
Kiara Richardson-Student President of BSU
Laura Scappaticci-Division of Student Services and Campus Life
1. Approval of the Minutes
Motion called for the September 16, 2014 minutes to be accepted. The motion to accept was made by
Jackie Fox and seconded by Jose A. Molina.
2. Treasure’s Report
Tabled
3. Old Business
a. Meeting Schedule for 2014-2015 year
The members decided on the following meeting dates:
November 18, February 17, March 17, April 21 and May 6
b. Report on diversity training for Residence Life
Drs. Garrison and Robinson reported on the 2.5 hour diversity training that they provided
Residence life. They discussed the purpose of the training and that it was well received by
Residence Life.
c. Student Focus Group Planning
Item b. provided a segue into a discussion of plans to hold focus discussion groups with
students of color on the climate on campus with a specific focus on life in the residence halls. Dr.
Robinson introduced Maya Wilson, a student and officer with the campus NAACP, who related
some of her experiences living in the residence halls. She noted that she has had negative
experiences and both Ms. Wilson and Dr. Robinson related the event in Dixon regarding hand
drawn posters that were interpreted by others as racially insensitive at best and racist at worse.
The conversation developed over how Residence Life responded to student complaints regarding
the posters. Members asked what were the residence life rules that governed the investigation of
the posters and were those rules followed. Various members had various concerns that the
process was not followed as it should have been. Dr. Goh noted that this event seemed
complicated and that we should invite Student Services to meet with the Commission to get a
fuller explanation of this specific event. Dr. Garrison noted that this issue was discussed last
semester (when it occurred) and said that although the complaints of the students were not
handled properly, the issue was complicated because the posters were such that they may or may
not have been intended to be racially insensitive or intentionally incendiary. Dr. Robinson stated
that may be true but that was not the point. Ms. Fox noted that by analogy, an action that is
sexually offensive to a person is offensive regardless of the intent of the person who performed
the act. Dr. Robinson noted that part of the problem is that there has been no notification, to the
students and families of those who were offended by the posters, regarding the final resolution of
the student disciplinary process. Ms. Fox noted that some hearings don’t require the person
offended to know what the resolution of a hearing is, but simply that a resolution has been
achieved.
Dr. Varano asked about the hiring process of Residence Life and how many student and
professional staff in Residence Life are people of color. It was noted that there are about 10-12
total people of color in the Residence life staff. The issue of students not matching the “family”
was discussed. Dr. Varano said it sounded “cliquish” to which Dr. Robinson agreed that was part
of the problem. Dr. Garrison noted that this issue of the “family” attitude was discussed with
Residence Life last semester. It was noted that the Director and Dep. Director of Residence Life
admitted to hearing about this attitude but denied that it was what they supported. They admitted
that it was an issue that they had to deal with.
Dr. Goh asked “what are we going to do regarding these issues?” Dr. Garrison stated that
we need to get more information and impressions from students on campus. He stated that the
Commission is working with student leaders to host a meeting with students of color from the
residence halls to get a better view of what living in the residence halls is like for students of
color. Dr. Garrison noted that this was necessary because we need more than anecdotal reports. It
was also suggested by various members that the following actions be considered:
1. Develop a training program for students on how they can report incidents of
racial insensitivity or racial bias and to whom should such reports be made.
The training should include a list of rights and duties that students have
regarding incidents.
2. Meet with Residence Life and Student Services regarding how complaints in
general are handled and specifically how the incident of the posters was
handled.
d. March 2015 Forum on the 50th Anniversary of the Moynihan Report
Not discussed.
4. New Business
a. Agenda, goals and plans for 2014-2015 year
See discussion under c.
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned by acclamation at 11:59 a.m.
Minutes submitted by: A. Garrison