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Vicki T. Sapp, coordinator of multicultural affairs in the Office of Student Life, and Patrick Zengierski, a campus minister for the Newman Center, are co-chairs of the UB Diversity Committee.
What is the mission of the UB Diversity Committee?
The UB Diversity Committee is committed to fostering a supportive educational environment for all faculty, staff and students, regardless of age, gender, national origin, religion, race, physical ability, disability or sexual orientation. UB encourages commitment to the principles of respect and diversity by all who work, study, live, teach and visit within the university community.
Who are the committee members?
The committee is composed of faculty, staff and students representing a broad spectrum of campus constituencies.
What services do you provide?
Our services include:
Publicizing and supporting policies on acceptance and diversity by which the university abides
Developing university-wide workshops, conferences and film series focusing on specific topics germane to issues of acceptance and diversity
Screening content of commercially developed, diversity-related films and programming materials to determine appropriateness for campus use
Serving as a campus resource for diversity-related films and materials
Coordinating satellite presentations of national teleconferences on a broad range of diversity issues for campus audiences, as appropriate
Collaborating with campus residence halls staff to promote in-house dialogues and diversity programming for residential students
Collaborating with the Office of Student Multicultural Affairs in the development and implementation of the annual Diversity Advocates Project
Serving as an informational resource to university offices and departments on issues of diversity-related conflict as situations arise
Providing the diversity component for new student orientation sessions
Just how diverse is an institution like UB?
UB is a microcosm of our world. Uniqueness cannot be quantified.
Has the work of the committee become even more important since the events of 9/11?
The work of the committee has always been important. There is always a need for human persons to grow in understanding and acceptance of one another's uniqueness. It is unfortunate that it sometimes takes a tragic event, such as 9/11, to make some people more aware of this need.
I understand the Office of Student Multicultural Affairs has developed a Diversity Challenge Pledge. Tell me about it.
The Student Multicultural Affairs Office has partnered with the UB Diversity Committee to make one of its goals to reach out to the entire campus community to encourage everyone to take a challenge to respect diversity. By reading, understanding and signing the Diversity Challenge Pledge, individuals acknowledge that they are important members of the UB community and that they accept and celebrate the differences of all people. In addition to signing a pledge card, which individuals keep as a reminder of their commitment to diversity, they sign a multi-color banner. Strips of the banner are being sewn together and our goal is to have the banner stretch from one end of the academic spine to the other, symbolizing the unity and diversity of our campus community.
Is the UB Diversity Committee currently working on any new initiatives?
Yes, our subcommittees have several in the works. The Religion Content Committee has created a group called Treffpunkt, which means meeting place in German. The Treffpunkt series will host faculty, staff and student panelists to discuss Islam, Judaism, Christianity and Buddhism. The series meets from 4-5 p.m. on the third Wednesday of each month. The Sexual Orientation Content Committee has developed three new components of the Safe Zone program, which provides support and resources on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) issues. The three components are a three-hour Safe Zone Training Program, an hour-long Ally Program and a three-hour Safe Zone Train the Trainer Program. The Sexual Orientation Content Committee also is working on the Gender Roles and Sexuality Program (G.R.A.S.P.). G.R.A.S.P is a program where students discuss the issues surrounding how they see themselves and others beyond stereotyping, homophobia, heterosexism and defining and questioning sexuality in order to explore the political issues concerning sexual orientation and how these issues affect the lives of individual students.
What question do you wish I had asked, and how would you have answered it?
We wish you had asked how to create a university environment that was free from bigotry and prejudice. We would respond with the hope that each student, staff and faculty member plays a part in helping to promote a supportive community where all persons from different backgrounds and cultures, attitudes and perspectives, are respected for who they are—unique persons with a contribution to the whole. We are each responsible for the formation of the world in which we live.