Office for Equal Opportunity
North Carolina
State University

Location & Hours
1 Holladay Hall
8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Monday - Friday

Mailing Address
Campus Box 7530
Raleigh, NC
27695-7530

Phone Numbers
Main: 919-515-3148
Fax: 919-513-1428
TTY: 919-515-9617

Equal_Op - February, 2001, Volume 1, #3

Harassment Resolution Officers

There is a great resource available for those needing more information about resolving harassment concerns. That resource is the Harassment Resolution Officers.

The Office for Equal Opportunity is the unit chiefly responsible for responding to issues of unlawful harassment on our campus. Our first priority is to prevent harassment, which is accomplished through training, education, and other outreach activities. When harassment nevertheless does occur, the university has an ethical and legal obligation to respond promptly. When appropriate, individuals are encouraged to seek assistance through their supervisors or advisors, or through Human Resources.

However, some individuals may be reluctant to seek assistance through the traditional channels. We have therefore designated 12 members of the campus community to serve as Harassment Resolution Officers (HROs). Anyone on campus with a question, concern, or complaint regarding harassment may contact any one of the 12 HROs, all of whom have received in-depth training. Any HRO can provide information regarding informal and formal options for resolving complaints of harassment and has been trained further to use his or her interpersonal skills to help provide a safe and comfortable environment for those seeking assistance.

This group is the evolutionary result of what began as the Sexual Harassment Liaison network, which was established in the mid-1980s. Over the years, this multiple point-of-entry system has changed a number of times in response to a better understanding of harassment issues and how to resolve them. Most recently, this system was expanded to address other areas beyond sexual harassment, as were a number of university policies and procedures. The HRO network now works with issues of harassment based on race, color, religion, creed, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, and sexual orientation.

While sexual harassment and racial harassment seem to occur with more frequency, the HROs are well versed in the other areas of harassment as well. Both staff and faculty are represented, and several of the HROs have particular expertise in a number of areas related to harassment. For example, Amy Halberstadt, associate professor of psychology, has conducted extensive research regarding gender and race. Hany Younes runs Student Family Housing and has great familiarity with a variety of cultures. Laura Kerrigan is a former attorney who now serves as the Head Women’s Soccer coach and is very familiar with Title IX issues. These are just a few of the individuals who provide an invaluable service to the university community.

Learn by Video to "Hire the Best" Candidates

We all want to recruit and hire the very best employees. To aid in this endeavor we now have a new tool available for check-out. "Hire the Best: Steps to Successful EPA Recruitment at NC State University" is a video orientation designed to provide information on both procedures and legalities of conducting an effective and efficient search. The video presents material in a way that is fun to learn and easy to follow. If you are involved in an EPA search and have not yet participated in a Search Committee Orientation, call OEO at 919-515-3148 to check out the video today.

Students Help with OEO Publicity

Students from the College of Design have provided professional quality services to the Office for Equal Opportunity on several occasions. Students enrolled in the Design Studio course take on a variety of design projects each semester. The result is a very economical yet professional product that benefits both the student and the client -– in this case, OEO.

Students undertake the entire project from the development and planning phase all the way through the production (printing) phase. Through this process, students are able to experience a real-life project from beginning to end in the comfort of the educational setting. The final product is then added to the students’ individual portfolios, which can be crucial as they move into their careers.

Several students created a campaign of sexual harassment posters and a procedural handbook during the fall semester of 1995. Alana Edelmann, a senior majoring in Graphic Design, designed a new logo for the Office for Equal Opportunity, which is featured prominently on this newsletter, in 2000. Most recently, an entire class designed a series of posters and brochures for OEO. Dozens of students and employees reviewed thirteen different campaigns in late November and provided feedback that assisted in the selection process.

Great publicity success was also achieved for Mediation Services by working with Assistant Professor Jessica Jameson's COMS 326 class, Public Relations Applications. A dedicated group of eight students conducted a thorough investigation of our target audiences -- students, staff, and faculty -- to ensure that we could get the word out about Mediation Services. Their public relations skills were developed further by conducting surveys, reviewing mediation literature to understand the "product," creating a campaign timeline and budget, and fashioning an incredible brochure with our own new Mediation Program logo! We are extremely pleased with the thoroughness of the project and the professionalism of the students.

Highlight Programs

Take Our Daughters to Work Day

NC State will be celebrating "Take Our Daughters to Work Day" on Thursday, April 26. As a local sponsor of this nationally recognized and supported event, the University will sponsor opening ceremonies, with events taking place throughout the day. One of the primary goals of TODTWD is to boost girls' self-confidence and self-esteem by showing them the options they have both professionally and personally. A university is a perfect place to demonstrate these options and show girls the successes that can be theirs as women. See the TODTWD website for more information.

Building Bridges: A Prejudice Reduction Workshop

The Office for Equal Opportunity, in conjunction with Human Resources and Student Affairs, is sponsoring "Building Bridges: A Prejudice Reduction Workshop" in the month of March. This workshop is open to the entire campus community (students, staff, and faculty).

Participants will take part in a set of activities design to celebrate their similarities and differences, identify the misinformation that they have learned about other groups, identify and heal from internalized oppression, claim pride in their own group identities, and learn empowerment by learning concrete tools for changing bigoted comments and actions. This program is interactive and makes a great impact on all who are involved.

This workshop follows a model developed by the National Coalition Building Institute. It has been offered on many college campuses across the United States. You may attend this five hour workshop on any of the following dates:

• Wednesday, March 14, 8:30 am - 1:30 pm
• Thursday, March 15, 12:00 - 5:00 pm
• Wednesday, March 21, 8:30 am - 1:30 pm
• Thursday, March 22, 5:00 - 10:00 pm

For more information, see the NCBI website.

Upcoming Programs

Study Circles

Facilitated through the Wake County YWCA and League of Women Voters, the Study Circles program assigns the participants into racially balanced groups who engage in small, democratic, peer-led discussions regarding their racial attitudes.

• Spring rounds begin March 5 and April 17

BASIC Race Awareness Seminar

This seminar provides NC State community members with a rare opportunity to openly explore their feelings and beliefs about the "black-white" issue and come to a better understanding of a complex issue through honest communication.

• June 4 & 5

The Protected Class Series

• The Protected Class of Disability
  February 28, 2001, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm, Blue Room, Talley Student Center

• The Protected Class of Veteran Status
  April 5, 2001, 1:00 - 4:00 pm, Brown Room, Talley Student Center

• The Protected Class of Sexual Orientation
  March 28, 2001, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm, Blue Room, Talley Student Center

For more information on programs sponsored by OEO, see Training & Educational Opportunities.

Targeted Positions

You have just been notified that your search has been "targeted." What does that mean?

The term "targeted" refers to a specific affirmative action strategy. Positions are "targeted" by comparing the current number of employees in a job group to the number of qualified people available for each job group. When the number of minority or female employees is less than 80% of the available number of qualified minorities or females for that job group, then we identified the position as "underrepresented."

What happens next? If, for example, Computing Services is found to be "underrepresented" in minorities or females for the job group of information technology (IT) positions, then they will be guided to interview a representative number of qualified minorities and females. The number depends on the number of qualified people available, as well as the number of people who actually applied.

Note that the example says "interview," not "hire." Affirmative action never requires that an unqualified person be hired merely to increase the number of a minority category; that would be a "quota," which is illegal. What it does require, though, is that we strive to consider applicants at ratios that are similar to what we find in the given qualified population. We continuously monitor our progress in these areas by setting hiring goals and a timeline for reaching those goals.

Do you want to find out more about this? We encourage to you review the University's Affirmative Action Plan. Copies are available in Human Resources, the Office for Equal Opportunity and Equity, D. H. Hill Library, and in the Dean's office of each college. Please see Training & Educational Opportunities for training sessions on affirmative action.

Thank you to Kathy Lambert for contributing information for this article.

Interesting Websites

• Electronic copies of required DOL posters: www.dol.gov/osbp/sbrefa/poster/main.htm.
  Some are available in Spanish. Feel free to print and post in your area!

• Don't forget! All EPA positions are being posted automatically on HigherEdJobs.com of charge to you!

Celebrate Diversity

• February is Black History Month. The purpose of this month is to recognize the contributions of Black Americans and develop a better understanding of the Black experience.

• March is National Women's History Month. This is a time recognize the important contributions women have made throughout history.

Many programs are offered on campus and in our community to celebrate these months. Challenge yourself to take advantage of at least one opportunity to learn something new about the history of Black Americans and Women.

Staff Spotlight: Greg Holden

Greg Holden is the Assistant Equal Opportunity Officer and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Coordinator for the University. In these roles, Greg ensures that persons with disabilities have the opportunity to enjoy the benefits of programs, services, and resources provided at NC State. He can be seen on campus with his tape measure, checking desk heights for accessibility or assisting in providing a reasonable accommodation for an employee. He has served in this position for the past two years. "Providing access to individuals is essential to disability compliance," states Greg, "along with addressing attitudinal barriers that continue to exist." Greg is often heard in workshops and presentations explaining that the ADA and other regulations related to persons with disabilities address an individual’s civil rights, along with the other equal opportunity laws.

Although Greg has been in his current position for two years, he is not new to the University. He has been on campus for over 13 years serving in various capacities. Prior to coming OEO, Greg worked in Human Resources, where he was Assistant Director for Diversity Programs. While in this position, one of his primary responsibilities was to address issues related to equal opportunity for SPA employees.

In 1995-1998, Greg had an opportunity to be involved with the creation of the Staff Senate. In the Senate’s first three years, he served as the Vice President, Chair-Elect, and Chair. As Chair, Greg had the privilege to serve on the search committee for our current Chancellor, Marye Anne Fox.

Greg is a native to Raleigh who enjoys interacting with people, camping, fishing, and sports. He played football at Broughton High School and South Carolina State University, Greg has also coached Pop Warner youth football and at Cardinal Gibbons High School. Currently, he is a high school official for both football and fast pitch softball.

Challenge Question

What are five of the classes protected from harassment and discrimination as defined by North Carolina State University?

Answer: Race, color, religion, creed, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, and sexual orientation.

If you have questions or comments regarding this newsletter, please contact Beverly Jones Williams at 919-513-3836 or by email.