Penn State summarizes recent efforts to eradicate intolerance

Penn State summarizes recent efforts to eradicate intolerance

The discovery of hateful photos on the personal web page of the president of the College Republicans was met with outrage by students, faculty, and staff in the Penn State community. University leaders condemned this behavior and spoke out against acts that foster racism, sexism, homophobia and incivility.

Penn State is committed to a campus climate where the humanity and dignity of each individual is respected. The recently updated and published plan, "A Framework to Foster Diversity at Penn State, 2004-09," outlines the promotion of diversity through institutional leadership, financial support for programs, and strategies and approaches that encourage the development of a multi-cultural campus.

Building on a long list of University-wide and college-specific diversity related initiatives, President Spanier has asked the Offices of Student Affairs, Educational Equity, and Undergraduate Education to review recent suggestions from faculty, staff, and student organizations for any potential additional areas in which further progress can be achieved. The University will also seek input from the Commission for Women, the Commission on Racial/Ethnic Diversity, and the Commission on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Equity, as well as The Forum On Black Affairs and other interested groups for insights on ways to improve the campus climate for diversity.

Because of the many concerns that have arisen among groups on campus, the University administration felt it important to provide an update on steps being taken to address intolerance at Penn State.


1. STATEMENTS OF CONDEMNATION
The University issued a statement condemning the photos that were posted by the president of the College Republicans and linked from the group's web page. President Spanier also issued a separate statement. Many other University groups have similarly condemned the photos. University statements included a call for the removal of the photos and for an apology from the person who put them up. Those statements can be found at:

Dec. 5, 2003: Statement from Penn State President Graham Spanier
http://live.psu.edu/story/4931

Dec. 7, 2003: University responds to College Republicans' acts
http://live.psu.edu/story/4932

Dec. 9, 2003: University Faculty Senate supports president's statement
http://www.psu.edu/ufs/Bise%20comment.htm

Updated information will be available at: http://www.equity.psu.edu/republicans.asp

2. SUPPORT FOR A NEW REPUBLICAN ORGANIZATION ON CAMPUS
While the University has no legal means to mandate a resignation of the president of the College Republicans, Republicans from far and wide have condemned the incident and called for the resignations of the president and other officers of the College Republicans. A new group of Young Republicans is forming on campus. The University will support their efforts to launch an alternative for student Republicans.

3. FACILITATING DIALOG
The Office of Student Affairs and the Office of Educational Equity have been meeting with student groups to deal with their concerns about the bias incident and to promote legal and appropriate responses for our student groups and the entire University community. Vice President for Student Affairs Vicky Triponey and Vice Provost for Educational Equity Terrell Jones will continue to provide leadership for the University in these discussions.

4. CURRICULAR CHANGES
The bias incident reinforces the continuing need to educate our students about multicultural issues. The University Faculty Senate has previously committed to developing a revised curricular requirement that better reflects the domestic multicultural experience. President Spanier and Provost Erickson both have indicated their belief that the current intercultural and international competence requirement is too broadly defined, and the focus of the requirement needs to be narrowed. They are pleased that the chair of the Senate has convened a special conference committee to work through current differences between Senate committees, and the President and Provost have urged the Senate to complete its work on this important item before the end of this academic year.

5. FTCAP AND ORIENTATION CHANGES
In an effort to increase awareness of diversity issues and the need for tolerance within the Penn State community, new and substantial information on diversity topics has been included in the Freshman, Testing, Counseling, and Advising Program (FTCAP) and Penn State's freshman orientation program. In addition, a letter is sent to each in-coming freshmen from the president of the University that includes a copy of the Penn State Principles. The vice provost for educational equity also sends each freshman a letter stressing the importance of diversity and understanding differences.

6. STUDENT GOVERNMENT
Student government leaders are discussing the inclusion of diversity education as a part of their leadership training for incoming student leaders, as well as including an anti-discrimination policy as part of the constitutions of student organizations.

7. ON-GOING COMMITMENT
Penn State will continue to stress the importance of diversity, civility and tolerance, and will continue to strive to ensure that all students, faculty and staff feel welcome and safe at Penn State. The University has invested substantial resources to foster diversity at Penn State and remains fully committed to this goal.

Other resources to report and combat intolerance are available at the Educational Equity site http://www.equity.psu.edu