The newly formed diversity task force met for the first time Friday in the Paul Robeson Cultural Center.
University Park Undergraduate Association president Courtney Lennartz (senior-health policy and administration) called the meeting to order.
Both cultural and non-cultural organizations were in attendance. Student groups included representatives from the Mexican American Student Organization, the Graduate Student Association, the Lion Ambassadors, the Panhellenic Council and the Puerto Rican Student Association.
There were also several students at the meeting who were unaffiliated with any organization
Lennartz began the meeting by asking the assembled students to determine a schedule for meeting. The general consensus agreed that more frequent meetings were necessary in the early days of the task force.
Ryan Brown, the Penn State Student Black Caucus president said, “we have a clear mission: to combat racism and acts of cultural insensitivity.”
The group also needed to focus on a combination of racial sensitivity and education about culture, Brown (senior-integrative arts) said.
Each student then stated his or her reasoning for attending the task force meeting.
After discussing many ideas and opinions, the group voted and decided to form subcommittees and choose chairs to facilitate moving forward.
The five subcommittees are policy, education, collaboration, dialogue and direct action.
The group eventually decided to present a proposal at the next Faculty Senate meeting.
