Diversity Committee meeting – August 14, 2008
Introductions/Committee Roster
Members Present:
Thura Mack – Diversity Co-chair and Training Coordinator for UT Libraries
Jeanine Williamson – Diversity Co-chair and Engineering and Art & Architecture Librarian in Research Services & Collections, UT Hodges Library
Trisha Brady – Supervisor for Media Center/Studio, at Hodges
Shantrie Collins – Diversity Resident, UT Libraries
Damon Campbell – Diversity Resident, UT Libraries
Laurie Roberson – Director of Student Services in the school of architecture and design.
Jerry Roberson – Professor at the Veterinary school and adviser to the Native American Student Organization.
George Hoemann – Chair of LGBT, Assistant Dean of Distance Education
Sandy Allen – Technical Services & Digital Access, at Hodges
Allison Roberts – Supervisor at Ag/Vet library, Diversity Committee web mistress
Members Absent:
Marielle Veve – Cataloging & Metadata Librarian, UT Libraries
Jane Row – Head, Research Services at UT Libraries and Ready for the World library point person
Jill Keally – Diversity ex-officio and Executive Associate Dean of UT Libraries
Donna Braquet – Diversity ex-officio and Librarian in Research Services & Collections
Annazette McCane – Director, UT Disability Services
Overview of the committee
Diversity definition and mission statement were included to provide in-depth background for new members (if you were not at the meeting, please attached Agenda document with these descriptions). We’ve been criticized about past programs’ validity. We are striving to be more accountable to the diversity definition. However, we do leave ourselves room to take risks.
Annual Report
Report was in draft form and shared to get feedback from members, and review types of programming that this committee is committed to.
Suggestion to add titles of the films and some specific hot topics that we feature for display. It was agreed that these changes will be incorporated.
Committee agreed to get card for Sarah Green, former co-chair of the Diversity Committee, for a job well done.
Calendars for best meeting dates
Members agreed that Thursdays at 1 p.m. is the best time for the committee to meet.
In the beginning of the Fall semester, we will meet twice a month. Once our projects are underway, we will meet once a month. Meetings are scheduled for an hour and a half.
The next meeting date is August 28 at 1 p.m. in Room 605.
Allison Roberts will get the committee an outlook account and set us up for shared calendars.
Announcements
There was an invitation from Roger Weaver to host LGBT program on October 16.
Evening presentation is about the book Courting Equality: Gay & Lesbian Marriage by Patricia A. Gozemba and Karen Kahn.
The committee’s role would be to create a day-time program about the digital history project these authors have launched and to help with advertising of the overall program.
Agenda Items for Next Meeting
Discuss significant diversity dates and create Diversity Committee calendar. Collaborate with Erik Bledsoe to submit calendar to UT’s Diversity and Intercultural page.
We will do one or two getting-to-know-you exercises.