Commission on the Status of Minorities
Meeting Minutes: May 8, 2014
Call to order
Arthur Garrison called to order the regular meeting of the 2013-14 Commission on the Status of
Minorities at 10:07 am on May 8, 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
Rhonda Branford – Division of Multicultural Services
James D. Jackson – Black Faculty Caucus
Laura Scappaticci – Division of Student Services and Campus Life (2014-2016 member)
The following persons were absent:
Thomas Robinson – African American Professional Organization
Jose A. Molina-Latino Caucus
Kiara Richardson-Student President of BSU
Ryan Wheeler – Black Student organization representative
Louis Rodriquez – Latino Caucus
Karen Deysher- Graduate Student Representative
Christopher Wentzel- Non-minority Student Government
Jackie Fox – Office of Social Equity
1. Approval of the Minutes
Motion called for the April 15, 2014 minutes to be accepted. The motion to accept was made by Thomas
Robinson and seconded by James Jackson.
2. Treasure’s Report
James Jackson (Treasure) provided the commission with a final report on the finances of the
Commission. The Commission has $3,568. The Commission expended $800 to support the cost of
bringing Nani Agbeli to campus. The motion to accept the Treasure’s report was made by Thomas
Robinson and seconded by Soo Goh. The motion was based unanimously.
3. Old Business
The Commission tabled discussion on Student Focus Groups
4. New Business
a. CSM report to the Administrative Council
The Chair (Arthur Garrison) provided the Commission with the final report submitted to the
Administrative Council. The Chair discussed the presentation and noted that the report was well
received.
b. Elections for the 2014-2015 Executive Board
The following members were nominated for the Executive Board:
Arthur Garrison – Chair
Thomas Robinson – Vice-Chair
James Jackson – Treasure
Soo Goh – Webmaster
Laura Scappaticci – Secretary
Motion was made to close nominations by Thomas Robinson and seconded by Soo Goh. The
members nominated were elected unanimously.
c. Commission membership
1. New Members
The Chair introduced three members who have been appointed to the Commission. Two will
serve from Fall 2014 through Spring 2016 and one will finish Marry Ann O’Neil’s final year
(2014-2015). The new members are:
Gary Chao-College of Business
Laura Scappaticci-Division of Student Services and Campus Life
Krista Varano-Elementary Education (replacement of Marry Ann O’Neil)
2. Removal of Non-participating members
The Chair discussed the Commission bylaws which make clear that members who have
missed three consecutive meetings are to be removed from the Commission as members. The
Chair reported that the following members had missed more than three consecutive meetings
and requested a motion to officially remove the member’s names from the Commission. The
members are:
Karen Deysher-Graduate Student Representative
Christopher Wentzel-non-minority Student Government
Ryan Wheeler-Black Student Organization Representative
Louis Rodriquez-Latino Caucus
The motion was made by Thomas Robinson and seconded by Rhonda Jackson. The motion
was passed unanimously.
The Chair informed the committee that Jackie Fox was on maternity leave and had thus not
attended three consecutive meetings. The Chair asked for a motion to waive the bylaws as
applied to her. The motion was made by Thomas Robinson and seconded by Qin Geng. The
Motion was passed unanimously.
3. The Chair acknowledged the work of Marry Ann O’Neill and stated that she would be
missed. She resigned from the commission to take a leadership position in her department.
d. Planed CSM events in 2014-2015
1. The Commission discussed a proposal by the Chair to plan and host a forum in March 2015 on
the 50th Anniversary of the Moynihan Report. The members discussed the purpose and design of
the one day forum. A motion was made by Thomas Robinson and seconded by James Jackson to
approve the proposal and to discuss details at the next meeting. The motion was passed
unanimously.
2. The Commission also discussed hosting a forum on African American Thought – the topic
being the ideas and philosophies of Justice Thomas and Justice Marshall. The Commission
agreed to discuss the details at the next Commission meeting.
e. Date for September meeting
The Commission agreed the first meeting will be September 16, 2014.
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned by acclamation at 10:47a.m.
Minutes submitted by: A. Garrison