Diversity council plan's not yet achieved

But UA President Peter Likins said last week he will rely on the council to help move the UA toward demographic equality.

Created in 1990 as an advisory group to the president, the council was given responsibility for overseeing the implementation of the University of Arizona Diversity Action Plan. Ken Foster, council co-chairman and director of UApresents, said the group has been unable to promote the plan.

"The Diversity Action Plan is a document that was created and not implemented - it has been essentially shelved," Foster said. "A substantial part is good, but as a volunteer committee, we don't have the resources to get a university buy-in."

According to the plan's mission statement, its goal is to "develop a campus climate that understands, accepts and em-braces the value of diversity among students, faulty and staff."

It outlines how the UA should improve diversity issues within administration, public events, training and the curriculum, and how to evaluate and assess progress made with each group.

Likins said he has plans for the council that extend beyond its advisory capacity.

"I have been planning for some time to prepare a 'discussion paper' on diversity, in an effort to engage the campus at-large in serious discussions of a wide range of topics related to our need to preserve our commitment to diversity," Likins said. "I will turn to the Diversity Action Council to discuss ways in which I can distribute this paper for general discussion."

It was also intended that the council promote awareness and tolerance between UA community members of different religious, economic, sexual and ethnic backgrounds. Foster said the group plans to do that, but the UA's size makes it difficult to accomplish.

"We have 20-30 people (council members) completely dedicated to a pluralistic society," Foster said. "We want to put that dedication into action, but it is difficult on a campus like this."

The council announced the 1998-1999 membership roster Oct. 6. Likins appoints faculty and staff members for three-year terms. Student members apply for one-year terms.

Foster said the 28-member council, which is primarily comprised of UA staff, would benefit from having additional faculty appointments.

"More faculty could move this into the faculty-student interaction," he said.

The council has three committees that focus on education, policies and small grants.

The three committees' cumulative effort is to review campus policies for political correctness and to educate and support the campus, Foster said.

"We want to find systems and procedures that make it (the university) accessible to people outside the dominant culture," Foster said.

Interdisciplinary studies junior Jennifer Cohoon, a council member, said the group wants to bring awareness to the UA students, and has considered diversifying the classroom.

"It is important to get to the students - those are the ones we are trying to reach out to," Cohoon said. "We can't get them all to seminars, but if we can get it into the curriculum, maybe we can get their attention."

The council is exploring the possibility of bringing more diversity into the classroom, but has not gone beyond talking to faculty members, Foster said.

Cohoon, who is also president of the Arizona Student Pagans, said she joined to help improve what she saw as a potential UA problem.

"There are a lot of issues that show how divided the campus is with their opinions," Cohoon said. "We (the diversity council) exist to create a campus where everyone is comfortable with each other and with themselves."

Cohoon noted the response received by the Arizona Daily Wildcat after a cartoon, "Looking For Billy," used the word "homo."

"The cartoon in the Wildcat shows how divided the campus is with their opinions," Cohoon said. "People reacted so differently."

Anthony C. Braza can be reached via e-mail at Anthony.C.Braza@wildcat.arizona.edu.