2008 Woodie Awards
RSSMore ideas vital in push to alter campus climate
By Kathryn Jacobson
Issue date: 10/23/07 Section: News
Since the release of the climate survey results in March, many groups have collaborated to use the findings in an attempt to change the campus.
The survey showed evidence of discrimination against students, faculty and staff based on certain characteristics, such as status, race, gender, sexual preference and socioeconomic class.
In early September, President Alice Gast sent a campus-wide welcome e-mail that addressed Lehigh's future plans for the campus climate.
In the e-mail, Gast presented the University Diversity Leadership Committee, a group that oversees the diversity initiative, as well as coordinates the studies and recommendations of three task forces as well as students, faculty and staff.
"Our next step will be to begin a process of campus-wide discussions regarding these recommendations," Gast wrote, "with the ultimate goal of establishing a clear list of priorities and an implementation plan and time line."
Gast will provide an update for the campus community Nov. 8 from 12 to 1 p.m. in Packard 101. The meeting is open to all faculty, staff and students.
Anna Orchard, '08, member of The Movement, said the student group recently met with Gast to discuss the climate survey and what steps are being made on campus.
Orchard said the biggest objective is to have the student body realize that many students on campus do not feel comfortable because of socioeconomic status, gender, sexuality or race.
Orchard said the administration needs to come up with changes that produce quick results, such as recruiting more top students outside of the straight, white, male middle-class northeastern majority. Orchard said Lehigh needs to offer more classes pertaining to issues such as socioeconomic equality and sexuality into the curriculum.
"It is not enough to keep coming up with climate surveys, task forces and programs semester after semester," Orchard said. "Many students and faculty want to see the visible results sooner rather than later."
The survey showed evidence of discrimination against students, faculty and staff based on certain characteristics, such as status, race, gender, sexual preference and socioeconomic class.
In early September, President Alice Gast sent a campus-wide welcome e-mail that addressed Lehigh's future plans for the campus climate.
In the e-mail, Gast presented the University Diversity Leadership Committee, a group that oversees the diversity initiative, as well as coordinates the studies and recommendations of three task forces as well as students, faculty and staff.
"Our next step will be to begin a process of campus-wide discussions regarding these recommendations," Gast wrote, "with the ultimate goal of establishing a clear list of priorities and an implementation plan and time line."
Gast will provide an update for the campus community Nov. 8 from 12 to 1 p.m. in Packard 101. The meeting is open to all faculty, staff and students.
Anna Orchard, '08, member of The Movement, said the student group recently met with Gast to discuss the climate survey and what steps are being made on campus.
Orchard said the biggest objective is to have the student body realize that many students on campus do not feel comfortable because of socioeconomic status, gender, sexuality or race.
Orchard said the administration needs to come up with changes that produce quick results, such as recruiting more top students outside of the straight, white, male middle-class northeastern majority. Orchard said Lehigh needs to offer more classes pertaining to issues such as socioeconomic equality and sexuality into the curriculum.
"It is not enough to keep coming up with climate surveys, task forces and programs semester after semester," Orchard said. "Many students and faculty want to see the visible results sooner rather than later."
