FR07-008: Anti-Discrimination
WHEREAS the University of New Mexico is an educational and academic community committed to diversity, equity and freedom of persecution for all students, staff and faculty;
WHEREAS the Graduate and Professional Student Association (henceforth GPSA) advocates on behalf of all graduate and professional students at University of New Mexico (henceforth UNM);
WHEREAS the GPSA is committed to improving the general situation of graduate and professional students, specifically creating an environment in which all students are free of racial, ethnic, gender, and sexual discrimination;
WHEREAS in the event of discrimination the Office of Equal Opportunity has set up a grievance procedure available to victims of discrimination, including students, staff and faculty;
IT IS RESOLVED that the GPSA will take on a leadership role and continue to advocate against hate crimes and discrimination on UNM campus,
IT IS RESOLVED that the University administration and the Office of Institutional Diversity will house a committee of students (appointed by ASUNM, the GPSA, and includes at least one undergraduate students, one graduate/professional student, one female student, and one international student), staff and faculty from a variety of departments, schools and colleges, that will develop a clear list of procedures for reporting, investigating and handle formal grievances in handling possible cases of hate crimes,
IT IS RESOLVED that GPSA will appoint a representative to a committee which will work with the University administration and the Office of Institutional Diversity in drafting procedures to deal with complaints of hate crimes which are 1) accessible to students, staff and faculty; 2) observe the principles of social justice and equal rights; 3) provide clear instructions and easy access to the University community to deal with incidents motivated by racial and ethnic hatred; and finally 4) protect the victims, complainant, or any person associated with a complainant,
IT IS RESOLVED that GPSA will appoint a representative to the committee which will handle grievances and follow the procedures set forth to handle cases of hate crimes and discrimination.
IT IS RESOLVED that the Office of Equal Opportunity will make their policies and procedures in relation to discrimination and harassment widely available and advertised at the beginning of each semester (though brochures and other publications, i.e. Daily Lobo) to all students, staff and faculty.
2 comments:
I think this resolution sounds perfectly reasonable. I'm not really sure what all this fuss is about.
The resolution should be as tightly worded as possible; in its present state, it's still not ready for prime time. The more focused it is, the better.
If there's already a grievance procedure available to victims of discrimination and a policy against discrimination (there are both), why include discrimination again here?
Also, what is meant by "principles of social justice?" It sounds like a lovely thing, but then so do "patriot act" and "no child left behind."
Finally, how are we determining which actions are "motivated by racial and ethnic hatred?" Would these be restricted to incidents of assault and battery, or even simple assault? Would incitement of violence or threats of violence also be included? Does an incident need to be a crime before it can become a "hate crime?" What about language that is merely offensive? If I say that the Irish are a bunch of lazy drunks, would that get me in trouble?
The answers may be obvious to you, but they're not going to be obvious to everyone else reading the resolution. Be clear, and define your terms.
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