Queer as he wants to be - Out & About Newspaper

14 • NEWS • OUT & ABOUT NEWSPAPER • APRIL, 2006
UT Diversity Affairs Committee to
recommend GLBT commission
by Beth Maples-Bays
East Tennessee Bureau Chief
The Diversity Council of the University of
Tennessee at Knoxville is currently working on a
plan to increase campus equality by the formation
of a new campus-wide
Diversity Action Plan. Following
an April 2004 recommendation
from the Chancellor and Vice
Chancellors, the Committee will
seek to formulate policy that
“respects diversity in all its forms”
including sexual orientation.
The 2004 recommendations
also encouraged “spirited discus-
sion of diversity” in an effort to
effect positive change.
Acknowledging that there is
broad campus support for GLBTs,
the Diversity Council proposes a
comprehensive action plan that
will target inclusion and outreach
as ultimate goals. In addition, the
Council hopes to attract underrepresented
categories of student
and employees in greater numbers
along with fostering and
increasing relationships with
organizations representing these
groups both on campus and
around the world, ensuring inclusion
of curriculum addressing
diverse cultural aspects in order to
prepare students to function after
their educational experience is
over. To that end, they propose a
Quality Enhancement Plan
intended to increase diverse cultural
awareness. They also maintain
opposition to all forms of
discrimination.
The Council, headed up by
Co-Chairs Marva Rudolph,
Director of the Office of Equity
and Diversity, and Alan P.
Chesney, Executive Director of
the Knoxville area University of
Tennessee Human Resources
Department, should have recommendations
ready for approval by
the Board of Trustees as early as this month.
A hint of the coming policy can be seen in the
tagline currently approved for use in advertising,
position announcements, catalogs, posters, application
forms, and other related printed materials.
The tagline as it now stands is applicable only to
the Knoxville campus. The statement reads as follows:
“The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, in
its efforts to ensure a welcoming environment for
all persons, does not discriminate on the basis of
sexual orientation in its campus-based programs,
services, and activities. Inquiries and complaints
should be directed to the Office of Equity and
Diversity.”
Sources close to the decision-making process
indicate that gender identity/expression language
will not be included in the new policy. There are
also suggestions that a Commission for GLBT
People will form in the manner of past commissions
such as the Commission for Women. The
Commission is anticipated to advise the
Chancellor regarding program and policy implementation
designed to create a more welcoming
environment for GLBT students, faculty, and
staff.
Chancellor Loren Crabtree’s official welcoming
statement for incoming faculty, staff, applicants,
and campus visitors includes sexual orientation as
a diversity category that is proactively recognized.
However, the official publication of the statement
emphasizes that it “does not constitute a change
in the University’s anti-discrimination policy.”
In the meantime, employees or students who
have complaints should address them to the
Office of Equity and Diversity (OED), 1840
Melrose Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37996-3560. The
OED office can be reached by telephone at (865)
974-2498 (V/TTY available) or 974-2440. Requests
for accommodation of a disability should be
directed to the ADA Coordinator at the UTK
Office of Human Resources, 600 Henley Street,
Knoxville, TN 37996-4125. �
Beth can be reached at
beth@outandaboutnewspaper.com