HARTNELL COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT
DIVERSITY/EEO ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Minutes
Thursday, May 22, 2014, 2:30 p.m.
D-129
APPROVED
MEMBERS
Name
Representing
Present
Terri Pyer
Melissa Chin-Parker
Paul Chen
Ann de Jesus Riley
Administration, Co-chair
Administration
Classified
Faculty
X
X
Elizabeth Estrella
Peter Calvert
Nora Torres-Zuniga
Amoldeep Bains
Faculty
At-large
At-large
Student
X
X
X
Title or Representing
Present
Absent
X
X
X
Others
Name
Alma Arriaga
HR Specialist
HR Staff
CALL TO ORDER & INTRODUCTIONS
Absent
X
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Meeting called to order at 2:30 p.m.
ACTION ITEMS
INFORMATION/DISCUSSION/PRESENTATIONS
This meeting was a continuation of the agenda from our April meeting, but also reviewed the survey of members on the
workings of the committee. In reviewing the survey, Liz expressed disappointment that the committee had not
accomplished more. Terri said that the committee had had only 6 meetings in the year, so it would be hard to have
accomplished very much more. Peter said that we should pick maybe 3 things that we could define and have a clear
deliverable.
Liz had to leave before 3.
Melissa Chin-Parker told the group about the “Salinas Stories” project that The Western Stage worked on in 2006 and
early 2007, having been awarded 6 NEA grants. The Gaman project focused on real life stories of Japanese American
residents of the Salinas and Pajaro valleys who were interned by the US Government during WWII. “Gaman” is the
Japanese word for “endurance with grace and dignity in the face of what seems unbearable.” Melissa talked about the
experience of collecting stories and performing them, and all the lessons learned along the way, such as encountering a
reluctance to talk about personal experiences, how generations experience things differently and have different feelings
about sharing; how to use archival and other historical information to supplement diaries and personal accounts.
Terri said that she wanted Melissa to share this story so that we could talk about whether there was a way for us to use
these lessons in telling Hartnell stories. This led to a multi-faceted discussion about theater pieces that already exist that
explore issues of diversity (Zoot Suit, Raisin, Laramie Project), basic questions that beginning theater students ponder,
like how we speak truthfully, how we learn to communicate things to an audience that are uncomfortable, but leave
1
Hartnell College Mission Statement
Focusing on the needs of the Salinas Valley, Hartnell College provides educational opportunities for students to reach academic goals in an environment
committed to student learning, achievement, and success.
people feeling whole. Melissa said that, when you plan something like this, you need to plan for at least two segments:
the theater event, and the conversation after. They both are important and cannot be shortchanged if theater is to be
used for community building and healing.
NEXT MEETING(S)
•
September 19, 2014
ADJOURNMENT
T. Pyer
2
Hartnell College Mission Statement
Hartnell College provides the leadership and resources to ensure that all students shall have equal access to a quality education and the opportunity to
pursue and achieve their goals. We are responsive to the learning needs of our community and dedicated to a diverse educational and cultural campus
environment that prepares our students for productive participation in a changing world.