UpDate - Vol. 11, No. 17, Page 6
January 23, 1992
Up and coming
New caucus to promote acceptance of all persons
A Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Concerns Caucus has been formed at
the University of Delaware under the umbrella of the Commission to
Promote Racial and Cultural Diversity.
According to Judith Y. Gibson, chairperson of the commission,
the caucus is one of the groups sponsored by the commission to
promote an environment on campus that is hospitable to all
students, faculty and staff. The findings, programs and suggestions
of the caucus will contribute to making the University a better
place, she said.
Recommended by the Lesbian/ Gay/Bisexual Student Union (LGBSU)
last May, the caucus is chaired by Kathryn Goldman, assistant
director of housing and residence life.
Others serving on the caucus are Timothy Brooks, dean of
students; Hilton Brown, professor of art conservation; Scott F.
Mason, assistant director of the Perkins Student Center; Barbara
Rexwinkel, associate director of housing and residence life; Joyce
Walter, program coordinator for Wellspring; and the Rev. Laura Lee
C. Wilson, Methodist chaplain at the University. Student members
include Richard Du Paix; Chris Eagen, president of LGBSU; Tres
Fromme; and Vicky Morelli.
"Our charge is to identify the concerns of gays, lesbians and
bisexuals within the University community and to make
recommendations to the commission in such areas as policies,
programs and other activities that will promote the acceptance of
all persons, regardless of their sexual orientation. Anyone
interested in joining the caucus is welcome," Goldman said.
The consensus of caucus members at a recent meeting is that
inequities, discrimination, and homophobic acts against gays,
lesbians and bisexuals exist in academia and elsewhere.
Other universities and colleges have formed similar committees
to study lesbian, gay and bisexual concerns, and the University of
Delaware also should address these issues as part of its commitment
to diversity.
Another goal of the caucus is to educate students and others
on campus that everyone is not heterosexual and to be more
accepting and tolerant of others.
As one caucus member said, "Homophobic acts and prejudices
seem to be more legitimized than other forms of discrimination, and
we have to stand up and say this kind of behavior is offensive."
As one of its first activities, the caucus is sponsoring a
teleconference, "Understanding and Meeting the Needs of Gay,
Lesbian and Bisexual Students," followed by a panel discussion, for
faculty and staff, from 1-4:30 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 6, at Studio B
in Newark Hall.
According to Goldman, space is available for 40 people on a
first-come, first-seated basis.
The conference is a project of the National Association of
Student Personnel Administrators, in conjunction with the National
University Teleconference Network. In a statement, the organizers
of the teleconference said that "on today's campuses, faculty,
students and staff frequently face issues related to sexual
orientation. Yet, there is little understanding either of the needs
of gay, lesbian and bisexual students or the institution's
responsibility for meeting these needs.
"This live, interactive teleconference will focus on
understanding the developmental needs of gay, lesbian and bisexual
students and developing campus policies on non-discrimination and
anti-harassment."
The conference will focus on the following questions:
* What are significant developmental issues for gay,
lesbian bisexual students?
* What is the impact of homophobia on individuals and
on the campus community?
* What are our responsibilities toward gay, lesbian
and bisexual students?
* How can we provide a supportive environment for gay,
lesbian and bisexual students?
* How should the campus address incidents of
harassment, discrimination or violence?
The teleconference will be moderated by Carol Randolph, a
Washington, D.C. attorney, who was formerly a television news
anchor and talk-show host.
Other participants include Rosiland Andreas, vice president
for student affairs at the University of Vermont; Kevin Berrill,
director of Anti-violence and Campus Projects of the National Gay
and Lesbian Task Force in Washington, D.C.; L. Lee Knefelkamp,
professor and chairperson of the Department of Adult and Higher
Education, Teachers College at Columbia University; Kathy Obear,
president of The Human Advantage in Amherst, Mass.; and Jamie
Washington, doctoral intern in the Office of Student Affairs at the
University of Maryland in Baltimore County.
Half of the funding for sponsoring the teleconference at the
University was provided by the University Faculty Senate Committee
on Cultural Activities and Public Events.
Other sponsors include the caucus, LGBSU, the Office of the
Dean of Students, the Commission to Promote Racial and Cultural
Diversity, the Office of Housing and Residence Life, the Perkins
Student Center and the ministers at the Newark United Methodist
Church.
For further information about the caucus and teleconference,
call Goldman at 831-1201.
- Sue Swyers Moncure
'New World Order' to continue tonight
The University of Delaware's 1992 Lecture-Seminar Series "The
New World Order?" continues this month with talks on the Soviet
economy, U.S. foreign policy and the Middle East.
Talks in the free public series are held at 7:30 p.m. in Room
128 of Clayton Hall on the University's Laird Campus.
Tonight, Elizabeth Pickering, professor of Soviet studies, at
the Defense Intelligence College, Defense Intelligence Agency, will
discuss "The Soviet Economy in the New World Order."
"Starting Point: A New U.S. Foreign Policy in the New World
Order" will be the subject of a lecture Monday, Jan. 27, by Robert
E. Hunter, vice president for regional programs and director of
European Studies at Georgetown Univeristy's Center for Strategic
and International Studies.
On Thursday, Jan. 30, the series will conclude with "A Region
in Conflict: The Middle East and the New World Order," discussed by
Judith Kipper, Middle East specialist at the Brookings Institution.
Pickering teaches U.S. national security policy and various
Soviet-related courses, and she is an Intermediate-Range Nuclear
Forces (INF) inspector who travels periodically to missile sites in
the Soviet Union.
Hunter was special adviser on Lebanon to the Speaker of the
House of Representatives and lead consultant to the National
Bipartisan Commission on Central America (the Kissinger
Commission).
During the Carter administration, he served on the National
Security Council staff as director of West European affairs and as
director of Middle East affairs.
He was a member of the U.S. negotiating team for talks on the
West Bank and Gaza Strip and was a principal author of the Carter
Doctrine for the Persian Gulf. His op-ed pieces appear regularly in
the Los Angeles Times and other newspapers.
Kipper directs the prestigious Council on Foreign Relations'
only regional program, the Middle East Forum. A consultant to the
Rand Corp. and to ABC News, she travels regularly to the Middle
East, visiting Israel and Arab countries, and she meets frequently
with Soviet officials and scholars in Moscow.
In November 1990, she traveled to Baghdad, Iraq, with Peter
Jennings of ABC News for an extensive interview with President
Saddam Hussein. During the Gulf Crisis, she testified as an expert
witness before the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, the House
Committee on Armed Services, the House Committee on Foreign Affairs
and the House Committee on Appropriations.
The lecture series is co-sponsored by the World Affairs
Council of Wilmington and the University's Office of International
Programs and Special Sessions and Department of Political Science
and International Relations.
'Man and Superman' revival scheduled
The Professional Theatre Training Program will revive its
well-received production of George Bernard Shaw's Man and Superman
in a production scheduled Jan. 31-Feb. 2.
Performances will be held on Friday, Jan. 31, at 7:30 p.m.;
Saturday, Feb. 1, at 12:30 and 7:30 p.m.; and again on Sunday, Feb.
2, at 12:30 and 7:30 p.m. All performances are staged in Hartshorn
Gymnasium on the corner of Academy Street and Park Place.
Evening tickets are $10 for the general public, $7 for
University faculty, staff and senior citizens and $4 for students.
Matinee and Sunday evening performances are $8 for the general
public, $5 for faculty, staff and senior citizens and $2 for
students.
For tickets, call the Mitchell Hall box office at 831-2204.
Elderly drug abuse Lewes lecture topic
The University By The Sea lecture series concludes Wednesday,
Jan. 29, with a talk on "Alcohol and Medication Use By Older Men
and Women."
The free public lecture will begin at 10:30 a.m. in Room 104
of Cannon Laboratory at the College of Marine Studies Complex, 700
Pilottown Rd., Lewes. Light refreshments will be available at 10:15
a.m.
Speakers will be Cynthia Robbins, associate professor of
sociology and criminal justice, and Steven M. Martin, associate
scientist in the University's Center for Drug and Alcohol Studies.
They will discuss a three-year study of alcohol and medication
used by 1,028 men and women aged 55 and older in Lexington, Ky. The
study was funded by the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and
Alcoholism.
Specific lecture topics include age-related changes in
metabolism of alcohol and drugs, dangers of drug interactions or
mixing alcohol and drugs, and social causes and consequences of
alcohol and drug problems of older men and women.
Robbins received her Ph.D. in sociology from the University of
Michigan in 1984. In addition to the Kentucky research, she studies
adolescent drug use and sex differences in patterns of alcohol and
drug use.
Martin helps direct evaluation studies of substance abuse
treatment programs for prisoners and parolees. He holds master's
degrees from the London School of Economics and the University of
Michigan.
For additional information, contact the Office of University
Relations in Georgetown at 856-1990 or in Dover at 735-8200.
Re-enactors, author to speak on campus
A presentation by a group of history re-enactors and a talk on
Quakers during the Civil War will be the next two programs in the
University's Civil War Lecture Series.
On Wednesday, Jan. 29, the 61st New York Infantry (Fort
Mifflin, Pennsylvania Guard), a group of living history
re-enactors, will describe the lives of Civil War soldiers in a
program entitled "Clubs Are Trumps."
Then, on Wednesday, Feb. 5, Doug Harper, author of a book on
the history of Chester County, will discuss "If Thee Must
Fight...Brandywine Valley Quakers in the Civil War."
Both free public programs will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the
Rodney Room of the Perkins Student Center.
The New York Infantry has appeared in the films Glory and The
Ironclads and in a mini-series about Abraham Lincoln.
Harper's talk will focus on the moral dilemma of pacifist,
anti-slavery activists during a war to end slavery. He will sign
copies of his books after the lecture. If Thee Must Fight... and An
Index of Civil War Soldiers and Sailors from Chester County, Pa.
will be available for purchase in the University Bookstore and at
the lecture site.
For more information, call 831-1296.
Diversity workshops open to employees
The Diversity Education Task Force of the Commission to
Promote Racial and Cultural Diveristy is sponsoring a series of
workshops through Winter Session and the spring semester. The
sessions are open to all interested employees.
"Here's Looking at You! A Foundation for Diversity Education"
will be offered from 8:30 a.m.- 4:30 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 5.
This workshop is targeted for professional staff and designed
to provide an introduction to issues of diversity on the campus and
in society.
Individuals with limited experience working with issue of
diversity in multicultural organizations will benefit most from
this session. Participants will be given an opportunity to explore
their personal attitudes and behaviors regarding diversity.
Attendance is limited to 20 participants. Interested
individuals must pre-register by contacting Janette Humphrey in the
Office of Housing and Residence Life, at 831-2952.
Information on upcoming University-wide workshops will be
provided in future issues of UpDate.
The Diversity Education Task Force will assist departments
that wish to provide in-house workshops on issues of diversity with
the names of trained campus facilitators who can tailor a program
to meet specific needs.
For more information, call Barbara Rexwinkel at 831-2952 or
Cecily Sawyer Harmon at 831-8307.
'Troubled Times' repeated Jan. 30
A panel discussion on "Troubled Times, Troubled People"
offered last semester, will be repeated from noon-2 p.m., Thursday,
Jan. 30, in the Colins Room of the Perkins Student Center.
Panelists will include Carol Hoffecker, acting associate
provost of graduate studies; John Bishop, dean of counseling and
student development; Tim Brooks, dean of students; Cecily Sawyer
Harmon, coordinator, Employee Assistance and Wellness Program; and
Lawrence Thornton, associate director of public safety.
The discussion will provide information to help the University
community be aware of the potential of unexpected acts of violence,
such as occurred last fall at the University of Iowa.
Information helpful to students, faculty and staff will be
presented and discussed.
Workshop addresses stress in daily lives
"Stress, Stress and More Stress: Strategies for Identifying
and Making Change" is the topic of a workshop scheduled from 1-3:30
p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 29, in the Ewing Room of the Perkins Student
Center.
The workshop will focus on the symptoms and signs of anxiety
and stress in daily life. In a participatory and relaxed setting,
individuals will learn to identify and be encouraged to change
their thoughts, feelings and behaviors that create stress and
anxiety.
Refreshments will be served. To pre-register, call the Center
for Teaching Effectiveness, no later than Jan. 24, at 831-2027.