Montclair State University
PCAA 2002-03

Minutes
November 20, 2003

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Present: R. Halaby, T. Jacobowitz, A. Subramariam (alt), J. Robinson, C. Meneghin, A. Pankiewicz (alt), L. Lemley (alt), M. Brown, N. Firoz, O Srednicki (alt), J. Harris (alt), I Barriera, M. Carter, L Rodriguez, D. Rogers, J. Hain, B. Milton

Absent: I Caprio, L. Rosario, L. Santiago, C. Stocerelski, M. Guervil, A. Caceres, R. Cartegena, M. Drozjock, D. DeBlasio, J. Ficke, H. Gera, C. Ortiz H. Perez

I. Call to Order

T. Jacobowitz called the meeting to order at 12:30 due to power outages in the Sprague Library.

II. Reading

Because we needed two more members for a quorum, we changed to order of the agenda and began with discussion on our readings by Arthur Coleman, Affirmative Action Through a Different Looking Glass and Sharpening the Rationale for Diversity. Coleman says that we carelessly and erroneously confuse the terms diversity and affirmative action. Affirmative Action is a legal tool to remedy discrimination against races and ethnic groups. This is not the same as admissions policies that are designed to increase enrollment diversity on campuses. Admissions policies that promote diversity should have an educational value/benefit the learning process of all students involved, outcomes that would not occur without the diversity.

III. Committee Reports

A. Mentoring M. Coleman

The committee met and worked on questions to add to L. Rodriguez survey for caucus and group outreach. The Mentoring Committee would also like to attend the outreach meetings with the groups. J. Ficke will also provide the Mentoring Committee with an update on faculty mentoring in addition to J. Harris providing information on current student mentoring on campus. The committee will also access reports on mentoring at other colleges and universities.

B. Recruiting and Retention L. Rodriguez

The Recruitment and Retention Committee is spearheading meetings for the PCAA to meet with caucuses and groups and discuss their concerns. The first scheduled meeting is with the women’s group on December 2 at 9:30 AM. The Latino(a) Caucus is scheduled for January 26 about 11:30- 1 PM. Letters of invitation went out to GLFSA, Senate Committee on Disabilities

The committee is also developing an on-line form with the same questions for comments for people who cannot attend the scheduled meetings for broader feedback among the selected constituencies.

C. Education J. Harris

This committee is charged with planning Affirmative Action Day that will help the committee meet the broader charge of educating students, faculty, and staff about affirmative action. B. Milton announced that she reached out to Jonathan Alger as a keynote speaker for AA Day on February 26 at 12 Noon ­ 2 PM. She is awaiting a response.

J. Harris added that it would be helpful if B. Milton updated the PCAA on the changing language of affirmative action at our next meeting.

The PCAA is cosponsoring the Wheelchair Basketball Game with Services for Students with Disabilities, and the Unity Collaboration on Monday, December 1, 2003 at 7:30 PM.

The next Education Committee meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, December 9 in SC-417.

IV. Student Involvement

Even at today’s meeting student involvement in still lacking. The PCAA must find active and meaningful roles to encourage their participation. M. Carter reached out to the LASO representative, who has a class at 1 PM on our meeting day. Dean Carter asked her to either send an alternate or attend at 12 noon and leave at 1 PM for her class.

Some concrete roles for students could be:

• Serving on the Affirmative Action Day Planning Committee
• Give PCAA information on campus climate and student concerns (L. Rodriguez)

Faculty-staff organizations should connect with corresponding student organizations to encourage student participation in the PCAA. I. Barreira volunteered to approach LASO and M. Brown volunteered to approach OSAU on student participation on the PCAA.

J. Robinson wants to the PCAA to continue discussion on the purpose and goals for having student involvment.

V. Other Business and Announcements

D. Rogers asked to put Minority Access to Careers (MAC) on the next PCAA meeting agenda. Is the program still operational in NJ and are we using it at MSU?

A. Subramaniam commented that students have difficulty identifying with international professors and students. To speak to this issue, she asked L. Rodriguez if the PCAA Recruitment and Retention Committee could extend the outreach to student organizations that send representatives to the PCAA. He responded that it is not feasible at this time, but they could be phased in later.

E. Isaacs observed that there is gender bias against women in faculty evaluations.

M. Carter shared a leaflet on respect from a newsletter published by the NJ Bar Association. This is an example of an educational piece the PCAA might share with the campus.

Congratulations to our own C. Meneghin, who was in the NY Times Thursday, November 20 on p. B 10 in an article on domestic partners. She announced that the NJ legislature will introduce a bill that will benefit domestic partners, but it may not get through committees before the end of the year. J. Hain added that President Cole has congratulated the bill’s sponsor, Loretta Weinberg and lends her support.

Meneghin explained that Civil marriage is a judicial issue. Presently, all states deny gay couples a marriage license. However, the court recently ordered full marriage in Massachusetts. By June, the courts have ordered the MA Legislature has to remove all legal obstacles that prevent gay couples from getting married.

The Executive Board will write a resolution to reaffirm its committee for domestic partnerships and an initiative for gay marriage to present to the PCAA at our December meeting.

VI. Minutes

Having reached a quorum the minutes were adopted with the following corrections:

p. 2 name spelling corrections Elaine Fine and Emily Isaacs on III, third paragraph, p.

Moved L. Rodriguez, E. Isaacs second. Motion carried.

VII. Adjournment at 1:55 PM.
Next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, December 18 at 12 noon.

Respectfully submitted

Michael S. Brown, Sr
Recording Secretary