2008 Woodie Awards
Group 'reflects' on campus needs
Clarisa Barnes
Issue date: 10/12/06 Section: News
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By Clarisa Barnes
Assistant News Editor
The UTC chapter of NAACP plans to bring changes to the university, citing low numbers of minority faculty members and students and the absence of a diversity center as issues that need to be addressed.
In an Oct. 4 meeting, NAACP members discussed what changes they would like to see made at UTC.
They hope to begin work on the desired changes through a program called Project Reflections of Change (ROC), which was designed by the chapter's executive board. As part of the project, NAACP will be wearing and distributing small mirrors, which represent a reflection of what it is they want to see on campus.
Organizational President Jamal Whitlow said the purpose of the event is to bring awareness to the campus community about National Take Affirmative Action Day (NTAAD) Oct. 18. This year marks the fifth that NTAAD has been celebrated on college campuses.
According to usstudents.org, "National Take Affirmative Action Day is a national day of solidarity and action for students fighting for racial justice in higher education."
An affirmative action fact sheet from Americans for a Fair Chance, a project of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights Education Fund, reported that affirmative action ensures diversity, which is "critical to the future strength of our society and our economy." Whitlow said that a lack of diversity is a problem at UTC.
During the meeting, Whitlow directed those in attendance to the UTC Fact Book online. He asked them to pay special attention to the chart for full-time faculty by ethnicity and gender. According to that chart, available through www.utc.edu, minorities make up 11.1 percent of full-time faculty. Minorities are classified on the chart as American Indian, Asian, Black and Hispanic.
"We deserve more minority faculty members than that," Whitlow said.
Students at the meeting said having more minority faculty members would benefit minority students by giving them role models, someone to relate to, strong professional references and compelling evidence that minorities can succeed.
Assistant News Editor
The UTC chapter of NAACP plans to bring changes to the university, citing low numbers of minority faculty members and students and the absence of a diversity center as issues that need to be addressed.
In an Oct. 4 meeting, NAACP members discussed what changes they would like to see made at UTC.
They hope to begin work on the desired changes through a program called Project Reflections of Change (ROC), which was designed by the chapter's executive board. As part of the project, NAACP will be wearing and distributing small mirrors, which represent a reflection of what it is they want to see on campus.
Organizational President Jamal Whitlow said the purpose of the event is to bring awareness to the campus community about National Take Affirmative Action Day (NTAAD) Oct. 18. This year marks the fifth that NTAAD has been celebrated on college campuses.
According to usstudents.org, "National Take Affirmative Action Day is a national day of solidarity and action for students fighting for racial justice in higher education."
An affirmative action fact sheet from Americans for a Fair Chance, a project of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights Education Fund, reported that affirmative action ensures diversity, which is "critical to the future strength of our society and our economy." Whitlow said that a lack of diversity is a problem at UTC.
During the meeting, Whitlow directed those in attendance to the UTC Fact Book online. He asked them to pay special attention to the chart for full-time faculty by ethnicity and gender. According to that chart, available through www.utc.edu, minorities make up 11.1 percent of full-time faculty. Minorities are classified on the chart as American Indian, Asian, Black and Hispanic.
"We deserve more minority faculty members than that," Whitlow said.
Students at the meeting said having more minority faculty members would benefit minority students by giving them role models, someone to relate to, strong professional references and compelling evidence that minorities can succeed.
