Committee seeks equality for students

By Suzanne Johnson, On-Line Forty-Niner

Tuesday, September 15, 1998

At the request of President Robert Maxson, a committee was recently formed to review the Office of Affirmative Action and how it is structured.

According to the committee's mission statement, findings will "help determine how the office can best be organized to ensure that the University's collective wish to have an environment that respects our diversity and promotes equality for all of our campus community could be achieved."

The committee was assigned the task of gathering input from the campus community regarding how the Office of Affirmative Action could effectively operate. In addition, committee members were to submit a recommendation to the president regarding whether or not to create an ombuds position, for the investigation of complaints.

Seven people make up the committee. Jay Kvapil, chairman of the department of art, Gary Reichard, associate vice president of academic affairs, Robyn Mack, director of budget and human resources, Dee Abrahamse, dean of the college of liberal arts, Alan Nishio, associate vice president for student services, Barbara Franklin, interim director of affimative action and Armando Contreras, office of the president.

The committee has suggested renaming the Office of Affirmative Action to the Office of Equity and Diversity, and is in favor of developing an ombuds position.

The ombudsman would act as a campus resource and referral service, assisting faculty, staff and students with informal problem resolution of complaints, conflicts, harassment or the unfair application of a campus policy or procedure.

The mediator would also advise campus leadership on policies and procedures. The mediator would also be responsible for educating the campus on what is acceptable and what is not in regards to discrimination through workshops and brochures consistent with the CSULB Statement on Ethical and Social Rights and Responsibilities.

By designating the responsibility of handling complaints to one person, all issues will be dealt with in a consistent manner, according to the commitee.

"This is an outgrowth of President Maxson's attempt to make the campus more user friendly," Franklin said.

Currently, there are no records of complaints solved informally, therefore there is no way to tell how widespread the problem of discrimination is, but on a campus this size, misunderstandings are bound to occur, Franklin said.

"We can lessen that," Franklin said. "Through education, more people will know what is acceptable and what is not."

The proposal could be approved within a few weeks.

If that is the case, after any necessary revisions are made, it would be sent to the Academic Senate and then to President Maxson for final approval. Then a search will be conducted to fill the position.

Students should direct their comments or opinions to Associated Students Inc. or Barbara Franklin in the Office of Affirmative Action.