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 - November, 2006 - Volume 7, #2

Opportunities for Educational Growth in the Holiday Season

"Merry Chri—, er, Happy Holid—, I mean, Season’s Greetings?" As 2006 winds down, familiar concerns and frustrations arise as to how to protect one’s own freedom of religion without imposing on another’s rights. The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution begins "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof," but what does this mean when it comes to holiday parties and decorations on campus?

The bottom line: North Carolina State University is a public institution, and as a public institution, NC State must not affiliate itself with any one religion or support any religion at the exclusion of others. At the same time, NC State is a community of individuals in pursuit of knowledge and intellectual growth. The campus fosters an environment in which one may express ideas and challenge others with opposing viewpoints.

Members of the NC State community should try viewing the upcoming holiday season as a reminder (because irrespective of one’s religious beliefs, candy canes will sprout up in our supermarkets and Santa Claus will wink at us from our television screens) to educate ourselves on the diverse religions and cultures represented on our campus. There are 42 separate "religious/spiritual" student organizations at NC State as well as a wealth of courses on a broad spectrum of religions. The opportunity is open for all individuals to respectfully share and express their religious beliefs, or lack thereof, in an educational way. See below for guidelines for appropriate seasonal activities and decorations at NC State.

Guidelines for Appropriate Seasonal Activities and Decorations at NC State

The following is excerpted from the holiday guidelines available on the OEO website at: www.ncsu.edu/equal_op/harassment/holiday_guidelines.pdf.

Activities in the Classroom . . .

• Teaching about or discussing religious holidays from a cultural, historical, or social perspective is permissible; celebrating religious holidays is not permissible.
  
• The use and display of religious symbols, provided they are used only as examples of cultural or religious heritage, is permissible to the extent these are used as teaching aids or resources.
  
• The use of religious music is permissible when it is a part of the academic study of music and/or when it is included among a variety of selections in concerts/programs (seasonal concerts would be included in this category).

Decorations and Displays on Campus . . .

• An employee’s immediate workspace may be decorated with seasonal "knick-knacks," desktop displays, and greeting cards.
  
• In public/common areas of all University locations, seasonal decorations and displays are limited to those sponsored and maintained by recognized student organizations or employee groups.

Additional Considerations . . .

• Consider incorporating other elements into activities, displays, or decorations that depict other cultural or religious beliefs, customs, and traditions.
  
• Consider collaborating with other individuals and groups to decorate a common/public area on campus (Note: Decorations in NCSU public areas must be approved through the campus administrator’s office).
  
• Devise seasonal activities that: 1) Serve an educational purpose for all, 2) Do not promote one religious tradition at the exclusion of another, and 3) Make all students and employees feel included.

The Office for Equal Opportunity Explores Somerset Place

The vision of the Office for Equal Opportunity is to make NC State University an institution where commitment to equal opportunity meets or exceeds legal requirements to create a fair and equitable campus community. In order to successfully fulfill this vision, Joanne Woodard, vice provost for equal opportunity and equity, seeks to provide continuing personal and professional development opportunities for the OEO staff. During our annual OEO retreat, we were given the opportunity to explore the local history of Creswell, North Carolina, where one of the largest plantations in North Carolina operated between 1790 and 1870.

Our exploration of Somerset provided insight, knowledge, and understanding of the historical aspects of race and race relations in the United States. The lifespan of Somerset, a self-sufficient community, included over 850 enslaved individuals, over 50 employees, and the family who ran the plantation. Even though few structures remain at the plantation site, the size, scope, and isolation of the plantation were evident. The enslaved community, employees, and family members lived, worked, raised children, attended church, were provided healthcare of the time period, and died at Somerset.

The need to maintain one’s family was of paramount importance to those in the enslaved community. "Knowing the potential consequences, most slaves — especially mothers afraid of being sold away from their children—remained captives. Most who did try to escape were almost always caught soon after. Those who remained in bondage simply focused on preparing their children for the freedom they prayed would one-day come." (www.ah.dcr.state.nc.us/Sections/HS/somerset/somerset.htm)

The experience of delving into Somerset Plantation yielded insight into the oppressive nature of enslavement and the lack of respect for basic human dignity and rights afforded by the United States Constitution, as well as civil rights and equal opportunity laws. The need for continued historical education was highlighted by this experience, as Maya Angelou explains, "History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, but if faced with courage, need not be lived again."

Photo: OEO staff at Somerset: (first row, left to right) Janet Howard, Elizabeth Snively, Joanne Woodard, Beverly Jones Williams, Alicia, our Somerset guide; (second row) Gillian Norton, LaKisha Simmons, Cheryl Branker; (third row) Amy Circosta, Gloria Hunt; (photographer, not pictured) Carson Cook.

Disability Services Office Releases New DVD

According to the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, more and more high school students with disabilities are planning to continue their education in postsecondary schools than ever before. Students with disabilities need to be well informed about their rights and responsibilities as well as the responsibilities postsecondary schools have toward them. Being well informed allows students with disabilities to have a full opportunity to enjoy the benefits of a postsecondary experience without confusion or delay.

In the university’s efforts to inform students with disabilities about the transition from high school to college, personnel from the Disability Services Office (DSO) have visited over 15 public and private high schools in North Carolina. The DSO has answered the many presentation requests for transition information by making a new and exciting closed-captioned DVD entitled, Higher Education: The Next Step for Students with Disabilities (4:40 minutes) available to audiences for purchase. The DVD encourages qualified high school students with disabilities to participate in postsecondary education and explains the general eligibility/accommodation process in institutions of higher learning. Planning for life beyond high school is an exciting time. It is our hope that Higher Education: The Next Step for Students with Disabilities helps students with disabilities determine which college gives them the best chance to be academically successful. For more information about purchasing the DVD, please contact Cheryl Branker, Ed.D. at 919-513-3768 or cheryl_branker@ncsu.edu.

Staff Spotlight: OEO Brings Amy Circosta to NC State

Amy Circosta joined OEO in July, 2006 as Director of Harassment Prevention and Equity Programs. Amy’s position involves investigating and resolving complaints of unlawful discrimination through both informal and formal procedures, as well as educating the campus community about unlawful harassment.

About one year ago, Amy and her husband packed up their SUV, with four surfboards loaded on top, and traveled from coast to coast before finding a home in Raleigh. A native of the Midwest, Amy is pleased to return to a climate with changing seasons, a town of friendly people, and a conference with great athletics.

Amy formerly served as Ombudsman for San Diego State University. She earned her J.D. from the University of Arizona and is licensed to practice law in California. When Amy is not working in Holladay Hall, you can find her reading, people-watching, walking her puppy, or training for her second marathon. Please come by and introduce yourself!

Programming Notes

NC State Hosts NC and SC Schools

The NC State National Coalition Building Institute (NCBI) Affiliate Team hosted the annual Carolina Coalition Train-the-Trainer event on September 29 – October 1, 2006. The NCBI program is one of several efforts on campus to educate students and employees about issues of discrimination, harassment, prejudice, and diversity. At the heart of this program is a group of dedicated facilitators who serve on the NCBI campus team and present the NCBI workshop model to faculty, staff and students. Team members are dedicated volunteers who must first complete a three-day train-the-trainer experience before joining the team.

The train-the-trainer workshop teaches participants to facilitate the NCBI diversity-training model. Participants also work on building their leadership skills as well as personal healing related to prejudice and discrimination. Once team members complete this training, they work with the group of experienced volunteers to present the workshop "Building Bridges: Strengthening Leadership for Diverse Communities" on our campus. NC State trained eleven new facilitators this year.

Our campus team has joined together with nine other NCBI campus affiliates in North and South Carolinas who comprise the Carolina Coalition. The Coalition meets quarterly to build strong campus teams and promote diversity education. The yearly train-the-trainer workshop rotates between North and South Carolina and is hosted by different college campuses. If you would like to learn more about NCBI, please visit www.ncsu.edu/ncbi.

Carolina Coalition Meets Cherie Brown

Members of the NC State NCBI team who participated in the Carolina Coalition (see article at left) had the opportunity to meet Cherie Brown, founder and executive director of NCBI International, who was taking part in the Presidential Colloquium Speaker Series at Clemson University on October 25. Brown helped team members build their facilitation skills and explore diversity issues. Brown has led hundreds of leadership training programs throughout the world for organizations such as the U.S. Congress, the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the Los Angeles Police Department, Corymeela Reconciliation Center in Ireland, and the University of Port Elizabeth in South Africa. Her numerous publications on intergroup topics include The Art of Coalition Building: A Guide for Community Leaders, "Healing Prejudicial Attitudes in Intergroup Conflicts," and Leading Diverse Communities: A How-To Guide for Moving from Healing into Action.

The Protected Classes at NC State

A protected class is a group of people who share common characteristics and are protected from discrimination and harassment by federal and/or state laws as well as University policies. Don’t miss out on these valuable upcoming workshops and others in this series:

• The Protected Class of Veteran Status (Nov 9)
• The Protected Class of Sex (Dec 5)
• The Protected Class of National Origin (Feb 13)
• The Protected Class of Disability (Mar 1)

To learn more and register, visit www.ncsu.edu/equal_op/education/oeo_programs.html.

OEO Resource Directory

Office for Equal Opportunity (OEO)
1 Holladay Hall
Campus Box 7530
919-515-3148
www.ncsu.edu/equal_op

Disability Services Office (DSO)
1900 Student Health Center
Campus Box 7509
919-515-7653
www.ncsu.edu/dso

Disability Hotline
To report a disability or accommodation issue or concern, send email to ADAHotline@ncsu.edu.

Discrimination or Harassment Complaints or Concerns
For help with a discrimination or harassment concern, contact Amy Circosta at 919-513-1234 or amy_circosta @ncsu.edu. You can also submit a harassment complaint online at www.ncsu.edu/equal_op/harassment/
harassment_complaint_form.html, or send email to report_harassment@ncsu.edu.

Hiring Procedures & Search Committee Orientations
If you are beginning a new search for a position, OEO encourages you to call 919-515-3148 to schedule a search committee orientation.

Workshops & Course Offerings
For information about our workshops and course offerings, please see www.ncsu.edu/equal_op/education.html or contact Beverly Jones Williams at 919-513-3836.

Online Training
We offer online training versions of some of our workshops. See www.ncsu.edu/project/oeo-training.

Faculty Exit Interviews
If you are a departing faculty member, please contact Joanne G. Woodard at 919-515-4559 or joanne_woodard@ncsu.edu to schedule your exit interview. [Update as of 2/2007: For your exit interview, please contact Carson C. Cook at 919-513-2099 or carson_cook@ncsu.edu.]

About Equal_Op
This newsletter is published by the Office for Equal Opportunity at NC State University. It is available online at www.ncsu.edu/equal_op/pubs.html and in alternate formats upon request.

If you have questions or comments regarding this newsletter, please contact the Office for Equal Opportunity at 919-515-3148 or by email.