Montclair State University PCAA 2001-02
Minutes
November 8, 2001
Present: M. Brown, C. Meneghin, R. Baylor (alt), K, Dennis, H. Gera, J. Ficke, O. Rodriguez Srednicki (alt), I. Caprio, L. McInerney, R. Judge (alt), B. Milton, M. Carter, D. Mengara, J. Hain, K. Bledsoe (alt), Wing Poon (alt), T. Jacobowitz, N. Connolly, C. Ortiz
Absent: B. Terry, L. Wise, E. Abreu, R. Young, J. Rivera, J. Mammaro, D. Chryssovergis, J. Harris, I. Barriera, M. Cunningham, L. Rodriguez, R. Sharps, S. Kight
I. Call to Order
A. Chairperson T. Jacobowitz called the meeting to order after reaching
a quorum at 12:20 PM.
B. Minutes from the October 11 distributed. A motion to accept without
amendments passed.
II. Sex, Race, & Merit: Debating Affirmative Action in Education and Employment
The discussion of Chapter 1 began with a reaction the comment on page 19 that noticing gender or ethnicity is a sign of sexism or racism. Many of us as affirmative action advocates and higher education faculty and staff notice. It was noted that students seem to think it is safe not to notice gender and ethnicity. Many students struggle not to avoid using race when describing faculty members. Two members shared experiences with their family members not accepting gay couples. People in general have difficulty accepting differences. A recommended reading is the Harris' Invisible Life, a book about homosexuality in black America. Another member (a person of color) noted that when he walked into class the first day, several students left. He confirmed that it was because of his color.
III. Committee Reports
A. Status on Minorities
B. Terry
No Report
B. Status of Women
M. Coleman-Carter
Twenty-seven (27) support staff attended the University Day workshop
about educational opportunities for staff. Feedback
and reports were very positive. A smaller group of 10 attended the workshop
with Todd Weinman on strategies for working with students and student
employees. Clerical staff requested that more workshops be included
in the University Day agenda in the future. K. Dennis noted that secretaries
from the School of Business did not participate due to their busy schedules
at registration time. Next time, the Dean and department chairs will
plan for coverage.
C. Recruitment and Retention
R. Sharps
R. Sharps will soon complete the report on the deans' survey.
IV. Old Business
A. Campus Communication Resolution
C. Meneghin moved and H. Gera seconded. Motion passed unanimously with
adjustments.
B. NCCJ Diversity Conference B. Milton
Sixteen faculty and staff from MSU supported Dr. Cole, a panelist at
the NCCJ Diversity Issues in Higher Education Conference at Rutgers
University Busch Campus on November 2. Barbara Milton admitted that
we may partial, but we were impressed with Dr. Cole's response to address
by Al Koepe, Chair of the NJ Commission on Higher Education and CEO
of PSE&G.
C. Affirmative Action Day Committee Report B. Milton
The committee met and recommends that we invite Supreme Court Justice
Ruth Ginsburg. They originally sought Lani Guineer, but her fee was
$15,000. However, Guineer's co-author is Susan Sturm, a Professor of
Law at Columbia University. The PCAA is prepared to offer her an honorarium
of $1,000. Other suggestions were:
flag raising
tables for representatives and advertisements of all organizations with
diversity agendas in SC411-412
refreshments in SC 411-412
keynote speaker in SC-419Evening program
(suggested an actor who portrays Frederick Douglas on women's rights)
D. Co-Sponsorship with Global Education
The PCAA is co-sponsoring a lecture on "Understanding Islam"
on Tuesday, November 13. PCAA members are urged to support it and invite
other members of the campus community.
E. Motion on Faculty Mentoring
The motion was tabled until we receive the report from the Recruitment
and Retention Committee.
F. Next Meeting is scheduled for December 20.
Submitted,
Michael Brown Recording Secretary