UpDate - Vol. 13, No. 3, Page 9
September 16, 1993
Diversity
Diversity Notebook

Commission survey  to raise awareness
     Ensuring that the campus climate is receptive to diverse constituent
groups is a commitment of the Commission to Promote Racial and Cultural
Diversity. The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Caucus, in conjunction with the
commission, will soon survey faculty and staff.
     Their study is designed to heighten campus awareness about issues of
particular concern to the lesbian, gay and bisexual community and to gather
data about ways in which the campus can be made more hospitable to those
with differing sexual orientations.

New coordinator comes to campus
     Jeanette DiScala has joined the staff of the Campus Diversity Unit to
assist students and staff with disabilities. She comes to Delaware from the
University of Washington, where she helped coordinate the requirements of
the Americans with Disabilities Act.
     DiScala will have primary responsibility for assisting students,
faculty and staff who have special needs, and she also will help ensure
that University facilities are accessible to the physically challenged.

Diversity workshops held at orientation
     For the third year, the Diversity Education Taskforce of the
Commission to Promote Racial and Cultural Diversity held workshops during
New Student Orientation. The workshops, presented by University faculty and
staff, covered such topics as homophobia, anti-Semitism, racism and sexism.
     For many in attendance, this was the first time they had discussed
issues of diversity, and the evaluations from the 63 workshops were
uniformly enthusiastic.

African-Americans prepare for college
     The African-American freshman and transfer student orientation was
held Aug. 26-29, to familiarize students with the campus and offer them an
opportunity to meet their colleagues while they learn about academic
expectations.
     This year, Lewis A. Randolph of Ohio University presented a three-day
mini-course, "Black Political Thought and Ideology." African-American
upperclassmen and alumni also participated in the program, sharing with the
incoming class how to position themselves for academic success at the
University.

Thousands of foreign scholars on campus
     Some 2,000 foreign students and visiting scholars from 100 countries
are part of the University community.
     The Foreign Student and Scholar Services unit serves as the "hub" of
activities to help bridge the gap for individuals from many different
cultures. The unit provides programs and services that help make the campus
more hospitable.
     In addition, the Cosmopolitan Club, the largest student club on
campus, encourages foreign students to participate fully in campus life by
sponsoring weekly coffee hours, trips to New York and Washington, D.C., and
a number of widely acclaimed celebrations.
     For information, please call 831-2115. Individuals may stop in at 4
Kent Way, the location of the Foreign Student and Scholar Services unit.