#volantediversity

Posted: Wednesday, December 11, 2013 5:42 am | Updated: 4:59 pm, Wed Dec 11, 2013.

Nathan Ellenbecker 

Senators of the Student Government Association may be in position to act as the representative voice of the student body, but some student were angered by Tuesday night’s meeting to find their own voices cut short by SGA proceedings. 

“I just wanted to be heard,” said graduate student Lydia Graslie. 

Graslie was among the largest student gallery in recent memory, with more than 60 people in attendance, as discussion focused on a proposed bill, to reserve four senate seats for “traditionally marginalized” on-campus organizations.  

If Senate Bill 62, which was referred to a committee, passes through the University of South Dakota SGA, the legislation would save four seats within the student senate for representatives pooled from the 10 designated “traditionally marginalized” student groups, said Alexis Oskolkoff, the senator who proposed the bill.

Senate Bill 62

These organizations are required to be open to students of all racial backgrounds.

“We always say we encourage diversity and we embrace inclusive excellence, but this is the first time we actually opened up to this subject,” Oskolkoff said.

During discussion, Executive Director of the South Dakota Board of Regents Student Federation Dennis Smith was allotted nine minutes to speak, as nine SGA members deferred their time to him — audience members were otherwise given 30 seconds for individual appeals. Smith said he spoke directly with members of the South Dakota Board of Regents before the meeting, and according to Smith, the SGA will face major legal troubles if the bill is passed.

The discussion led to an exchange on issues such as reverse racism and questions on the SGA’s relationships with student organizations. Reactions ranged from shouts to tears. 

With approval from SGA President Erik Muckey, senior Tyler Tordsen, another senator, opened the proposal of a task force for work on the bill, which he said will be a more effective way to tackle the issue.

“My proposal is to appoint a workgroup consisting of roughly nine individuals with different backgrounds and perspectives to help come together and present a recommendation to SGA on what steps should be made to create a more inclusive senate body,” Tordsen said.

Muckey said he approved of the task force during the meeting, and Tordsen said he wants the group assembled so work can begin over the winter break.

“Having that task force that Tyler is hoping to bring forward is important, simply because it’s not just looking at physical representation, but looking at how the culture of SGA addresses it in terms of accessibility,” Muckey said.

According to Senate Bill 62, the “traditionally marginalized” groups will nominate one member of their organizations for an at-large interview with the SGA senate, which will select four new senators to serve regular-length terms.

The bill intends to create a four-year trial period where the SGA will assess its efforts to expand diversity awareness among student organizations and point of views within the senate through the added seats, Oskolkoff said.  

“Because there was so much opposition to it, I wanted to have it in discussion,” she said. “That way we had more of a chance that I could hear everyone’s questions and concerns regarding the bill before I had my first reading.”

According to Tordsen, the plan for the group is to have nine individuals — four senate members, four non-senate members (students, faculty, etc.) and one SGA executive. 

He said this group will create more effective conversation with the best chance of creating successful and fair legislation, something Muckey said he hopes will come from the group.

Posted: Wednesday, December 11, 2013 5:49 am

Trent Opstedahl  The proposal to bring a multicultural student center to the University of South Dakota is one step closer to becoming a reality.

According to Jesus Trevino, associate vice president for diversity, an official proposal has been submitted to President James Abbott and the executive council to be vetted and approved or returned with recommendations.

“Ultimately, the vision is to have a central area where there are lots of activities going on around issues of diversity,” Trevino said.

Two locations are being considered for the proposed multicultural student center — the former Continuing Education building and the current Commons facility in North Complex. 

Trevino said the goal of the proposed multicultural student center is to deter away from the traditional perception of diversity.

“Diversity has become very complex,” he said. “It is not a problem to be solved, but it is an asset that can be very valuable and used to achieve a variety of educational and institutional outcomes related to teaching, learning, research and the preparation for students to engage in a diverse world.”

In an open forum between USD students and Trevino Dec. 5, Trevino went over the proposal with students, and afterward students shared comments and concerns about the proposal. 

Alexis Oskolkoff was among the 15 students present at the forum.

“It’s a step-by-step process and it starts with education,” Oskolkoff said. “We need to teach students what the definition of diversity is, what the definition of inclusive excellence is, and then we can start moving forward.”

Oskolkoff, Arts and Sciences senator for the Student Government Association, said the basis of her campaign platform was to eventually convince the SGA to pass a resolution in favor of a multicultural student center.

According to Oskolkoff, she received opposition from various constituents concerning her platform right away, as she says some think a multicultural student center would “create segregation instead of inclusion.”

“It’s another way to promote inclusive excellence, which is now in the university’s strategic plan, and this is one way we can accomplish those goals in the plan,” Oskolkoff said.

A common concern among many who have been involved in developing the proposal, nine names for the multicultural center have been submitted within the proposal.

The process of how to develop a multicultural center at USD first began in October 2012, when the Office for Diversity brought in two consultants to evaluate the university’s physical and social environments.

From there, a subcommittee under the Provost Staben’s committee on African American student success prepared the proposal.

Trevino said the last process of the proposal was to report back to USD students on the progress being made on the multicultural center before sending it on for review.

Trevino said there is no official timeline for when the multicultural student center would be operational, but he is hopeful the process is headed in the right direction.

Posted: Tuesday, November 19, 2013 6:20 pm | Updated: 6:34 pm, Tue Dec 10, 2013.

Sensitivity and awareness to diverse cultures is not only vital, but necessary on a college campus like the University of South Dakota. 

While it is still common to see hesitation to accept the unknown, the university is pushing for students to spend their time at USD learning to not only be aware of the variety of cultures and ways of life surrounding them, but to also be considerate of them. 

In order to enhance this acceptance and understanding in the student population, the university has taken action to make diverse cultures a more prominent priority on campus. 

Events ranging from International Education Week to a variety of speakers are held on campus in an effort to engage students in the idea of learning and eventually embracing other cultures they may not be familiar with. 

Among their number of guests this semester, the Campus Activities Board is sponsoring the appearance of speaker Timothy Kurek to tell his story of living for one year under the label of being gay and the experiences he was forced to handle with his family and friends. This type of interaction opens the eyes of students to lifestyles they have never encountered. 

The student group also brings in guests to speak on relatable issues on college campuses and comedians as way to bring students together. 

In continuance of the education on cultures, the university holds an entire week dedicated to international education. The week consists of lectures, films and events that attempt to bring students of different cultures together to be able to understand just how diverse of a campus USD is becoming. 

At a liberal arts college, it is becoming more and more common that student backgrounds, heritages and cultures range from one end of the spectrum to another. Especially with athletic recruits from all over the country and the international program, the diversity of students is only going in upward direction. 

Posted: Wednesday, October 30, 2013 1:56 am

Michael Geheren

Diversity and inclusion consultant and presenter Jamie Utt told University of South Dakota students Monday night during his presentation, “The Wall,” he had been told ‘this place is not safe,’ after speaking to people on campus.

“I have heard a lot of voices here to know there is a lot of work to be done to be safe,” Utt said.

USD Student Services and the Student Government Association invited Utt for an impromptu presentation on diversity and sexual violence prevention.

Utt said to students in attendance to keep an open mind, follow the truth, maintain self-reflection and listen to gut reactions as some steps to create the awareness. 

As part of the presentation, students wrote on poster board some of the worst possible things students could think of when dealing with different genders, ethnic groups and sexual orientations Monday afternoon.

The boards were displayed at Aalfs Auditorium in Slagle Hall while Utt read some of the vulgar statements. His speech then focused on two parts — racism and sexual violence. 

Lindsay Sparks, assistant director of student life, said Utt’s presentation was in response to address “things that have happened on campus.”

“We also have been trying to get him here, and this was his earliest availability,” she said.

Sparks said her goal was to inspire students to open a dialogue, join groups outside of their comfort zones and have a chance to ask questions. 

Similarly, SGA President Erik Muckey said open dialogue is the key to addressing racism and sexual violence.

In a question-and-answer session, Utt said while spending time on USD’s campus he recommended administration to invest in an inclusive environment.

Utt then shifted the conversation to sexual assault. He told the audience one in four to one in six women will be sexually assaulted in their lifetime, according to the Rape, Abuse and Incest Center. 

“Jamie has been on our campus before, and a lot of students really trust Jamie,” Sparks said.

Utt challenged the audience with the question, “what can we do in our communities to make sure everyone feels safe?”

Alexis Oskolkoff, a non-traditional student and SGA senator, said after an incident during Dakota Days involving race, she received emails from students of different cultures. 

“It wasn’t just a Native American issue. It turned into an issue of all diverse backgrounds and that they didn’t feel safe on campus,” Oskolkoff said. 

Oskolkoff said she thought the Dean of Students office and SGA did a good job advertising the event despite the short notice. The Student Services Office sent a campus-wide email at 9 a.m. Monday.

After the Q&A session, audience members were encouraged to go on stage and tear off pieces of the poster board to keep as a reminder about bigotry. 

Posted: Wednesday, October 23, 2013 1:58 am

By Braley Dodson

Ethnic and cultural clubs may have a new meeting location if the proposed plan for a multicultural center is approved, said Associate Vice President of Diversity Jesus Trevino.

The center would provide office space for multicultural groups, along with rooms to conduct meetings.

Trevino said the Temporary Student Center near North Complex has been eyed for a location for the center.

“We want to create something students see themselves as part of,” Trevino said.

Beyond racial groups, the culture center would also extend to women, international students, LGBT, veteran and other student organizations.

Trevino, along with Dean of Students Kim Grieve, is creating a proposal for the center to be passed onto President James Abbott for approval.

Jordan Catlett, president of Tiospaye, said communicating with other student groups is beneficial for recruitment and support, but a forced move into the new multicultural center would push the group out of its current office space in the Native American Cultural Center.

“There are pros and cons for us,”he said.

Catlett said Tiospaye originally heard the NACC would be moved to the multicultural center, but now only Tiospaye will be moved.

“We were being kicked out of our own home,” Catlett said. “It’s where the community finds us.”

Catlett is unsure if Tiospaye will be able to continue selling tacos at the NACC, or if the sales will have to be made in the new center. She’s also unsure if the lumber stored in the basement of the NACC for the group’s Dakota Days float will have to be moved.

After the center has been given approval, a student forum will be held as early as this spring to discuss the possibilities for the center and a budget will be set for the possible renovation of the old union.

The name of the center will be discussed at the forum, where Trevino hopes to contain aspects of diversity and inclusiveness.  

“The university is serious about starting the center,” Trevino said. “Everyone agrees something needs to be done as soon as possible.”

Trevino said the center would be different from those at other universities, because a condition of moving into the center would be that the groups must collaborate with one another.  

“It will give majority students the chance to interact with minorities,” Trevino said. “It’s something that invites the entire community to come and participate.”

Even though the center would be in an existing building, Trevino said it is the point of the center, and not the building, that’s important.

“This isn’t brand new, but at this point, we need to make the vision come alive,” Trevino said.

The large, open space at the center of the building would serve as a communal lounge, with a possible University Brew location.

Trevino said he has yet to speak to student organizations about the possibility of moving into the center.

He said he hopes the center gives students who are not a minority the chance to interact with other groups and improve their leadership skills.

Sophomore Jen Allen does not belong to a multicultural club on campus, but supports the idea of the center because it would give her the opportunity to see the diversity on campus.

Posted: Wednesday, October 23, 2013 1:51 am | Updated: 7:36 pm, Tue Oct 29, 2013.

By Nathan Ellenbecker and Megan Card

President James Abbott said Tuesday in a release by the University of South Dakota that “insensitive remarks and rude treatment of minority groups on campus” will not be tolerated by the university.

Abbott’s comments were incited by an incident reported during the university’s homecoming, when student organization Strollers admitted that members on their Dakota Days float taunted USD student Alexis Oskolkoff and her 9-year-old son for wearing traditional Native American regalia. The students reportedly yelled out, “Look at those Indians,” and began making war whoops with their hands to their mouths.

Lindsay Sparks, assistant director of student life, said students within Strollers have done everything asked of them to make up for this incident — which Abbott described as deplorable in the release. Sparks also said there is no specific disciplinary protocol for when a student makes racially insensitive comments or gestures to her knowledge, and so far, the organization as a whole has delivered a written letter to Oskolkoff, while Strollers President Chris Jahr has apologized in person to Oskolkoff and her son.

“Strollers has also been very upfront in being a part of any programming or any kind of conversation or whatever it might be surrounding diversity and Inclusive Excellence,” Sparks said.

The next step for Strollers, the oldest student-run organization on campus, will revolve around Inclusive Excellence she said, when members will assist hosting diversity speaker Jamie Utt next Monday at 7:30 p.m. in Aalfs Auditorium.

The university's release said Dean of Students Kim Grieve has worked with the students involved in the D-Days racial incident, although Sparks was not able to disclose if all taunters have been identified and disciplined for their actions.

Jesus Trevino, associate vice president for diversity, said the Strollers' actions have not helped efforts to improve the university’s diversity climate.

“The larger picture is that we can use this as an instance to look at our policy and take a look at our programs to see how we can improve,” Trevino said. “That’s not just going to be the decision of just one person or one group. That’s going to be up to a lot of people at the table that represent a lot of different areas of our campus to decide how best to move forward as a university.”

The Inclusive Excellence program, Trevino said, is a part of the university’s strategic plan to transform USD's environment to be supportive of people from a number of alternative backgrounds.

Tiospaye Student Council President Jordan Catlett said she and other members of the organization do not think promoting racial sensitivity in the context of discipline is appropriate, because cultural tolerance is something all organizations should strive for daily.