The Diversity Steering Committee convened at 12:00 noon, in the Lower Level Conference Room, Chrystal Center, on February 7, 2003. Present were: Giovanni Cortez, Katya Gibel Azoulay, Dan Kaiser, Kristin Lovig, Melanie Yazzie, and Frank Thomas
The committee discussed its purpose and to whom reports were to be made. Frank Thomas outlined the history of the committee and to whom it reported. He advised that the committee is a successor to the former Affirmative Action Committee and is a result of three disparate events: the recommendation of the former Affirmative Action Officer for an office dedicated to diversity issues, with an officer who also held faculty rank or faculty experience; the president's diversity papers, one submitted to the Executive Council and subsequently adopted by the Council, with minor changes; and finally an initiative proposed and supported by the Board of Trustees regarding faculty hiring.
The committee questioned whether its existence was of benefit or whether this was just another in a "feel good" exercise. Thomas responded that the committee had a basis for creating a framework to accomplishment regarding diversity. That basis included the usage of the Grinnell College Self-Study, prepared in anticipation of the 1998 North Central Accreditation Association accreditation report; and, the NCA accreditation report, itself. Both documents discussed the need for greater attention and growth in the area of "multiculturalism."
The committee discussed the lack of any persons of color in the decision-making areas of the college, e.g., the Executive Council. The committee also discussed possible future action to advance the issues of diversity. It was suggested that the committee ask the Dean of the College for a meeting with the academic department chairs to discuss the ambit of diversity issues-particularly faculty appointments. The committee also decided that it could ask the Executive Council to move diversity discussions to the agenda for a future faculty meeting to engage the faculty more fully in the effort. Third, the committee agreed that student organizations could be encouraged to seek meetings with academic department chairs around the issue of diversity.
The committee set its next meeting for Friday, February 14, 2003, Lower Level of the Chrystal Center, Time for the meeting is 12:00 noon. The agenda would revolve around the three action areas previously discussed.
Submitted by,
Frank Thomas Recorder
