In an attempt to foster an environment of understanding regarding diversity issues on campus, NC State will host a Campus Dialogue on Race, Monday Oct. 21, from 3 to 5 p.m. at Stewart Theatre.

Panelists representing campus administration, faculty and students will gather to discuss the topic "What is Racism - Is NC State Racist?" and answer questions from audience members. Dr. Rupert Nacoste, Alumni Distinguished Undergraduate Professor of Psychology, will serve as facilitator for the discussion, which is co-sponsored by the Provost's Office, Student Government and the Office for Diversity and African American Affairs.

"It's important to hear what the campus community thinks and has to say about issues of race, because these issues are often an undercurrent of some of the major events, issues and concerns raised on campus," said Joanne Woodard, vice provost for equal opportunity and equity and interim vice provost for diversity and African American affairs.

Monday's gathering is the first of at least three Campus Dialogue events scheduled for the 2002-03 academic year. November's event will feature Dr. John Matlock, associate vice-provost and director of the Office of Academic Multicultural Initiatives at the University of Michigan, which recently faced a court challenge to its diversity program. A March event will feature Dr. Peggy McIntosh, associate director of the Wellesley College Center for Research on Women and author of "White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack."

"The dialogue is a significant part of our entire diversity effort," Woodard said. "We want to help bring about what we call cultural competency - that is, having a basic degree of respect and civility for one another. Then we want to educate people on campus about issues of diversity.
"I believe that those three pieces - the respect, the knowledge, the dialogue - will move us toward embracing the diversity that the chancellor has so eloquently described as one of our university goals."

Campus Dialogue is just one of many tools the Office of Diversity and African American Affairs is using to try and achieve those core goals. Woodard said that another important initiative under way is a climate survey.

"We want to find out if discriminatory things are happening on campus, or is that just the perception," she said. "It's easy to take a few, isolated incidents and manufacture those into a 'Oh God, the climate at NC State is horrible!' Unfortunately many times, it's the isolated incidents that get the press. You don't get coverage of, say, students taking their spring break and going to the Dominican Republic to build a Habitat for Humanity house. Those messages often don't get out to the same extent."

Woodard said a diversity advisory committee has been re-established to help move the university toward its goals. A video was produced to help those who have experienced discrimination or harassment report such incidents, and efforts have been made to address diversity issues at both new student and new employee orientations. Her office is also working with a number of campus departments on such events as Human Rights Week and the Sisterhood Dinner. Externally, her department is trying to sponsor with the YWCA a program called Study Circles, small discussion groups on race and ethnicity.

"We're trying to be responsive to issues raised by students, and trying to identify strategic areas and directions in which we want to move the university," Woodard said. "It's being done with very good support from our administrators, our vice chancellors, our deans, and very much so the chancellor in trying to move us along."

Posted October 17, 2002

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