Resolution 0102-AU-017
A Resolution Concerning Tolerance and Respect for Diversity
Passed November 30, 2001
Co-Authors: Natacha Foo-Kune, Psychology and Mary Frey
WHEREAS some persons in Columbus, Ohio and the United States have unleashed a new wave of racial hostility as a result of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States; and
WHEREAS some students who are victims of this hostility are suffering in silence and may be unwilling to or feel unable to report these incidents of harassment to authorities for whatever reason; and
WHEREAS there is a report of the University Police not being willing to take a report of harassment if only racist comments were made as they are afraid of impeding free speech; and
WHEREAS there is already an official policy prohibiting ethnic and racial discrimination, included in the Code of Student Conduct; and
WHEREAS graduate students, graduate and teaching assistants often represent the University to and have established rapport with their fellow students, have heard and are hearing of incidents of harassment yet do not wish to violate the trust of the students who trust them with this information by being forced to make official reports about these incidents; and
WHEREAS there is no official staff spokesperson within the University community who addresses the concerns of the Arab-Americans who hail from or have ancestors from North Africa and the Near East regardless of religious persuasion,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Council of Graduate Students calls upon President Kirwan to issue a follow-up electronic letter to all in the University community in which he affirms the University's position against harassment of any kind and restates the procedures available to assist victims and the punishments that can be leveled against the perpetrators of these crimes; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council of Graduate Students calls upon the University Administration, the Senate Diversity Committee and the Office of Student Affairs to pursue and appoint someone who will represent the issues of Arab Americans as an ethnic, not a religious population and who will reach out and facilitate the creation of representative student organizations at the undergraduate and the graduate and professional levels; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council of Graduate Students calls upon the CGS President to send an email to all OSU students and residence hall staff containing a list of counseling, legal and advocacy services which can be shared with those victims who approach them with confidential pleas for help and direction in confronting harassment; and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the Council of Graduate Students calls
upon the Office of Judicial Affairs to work with the University Police
to provide training to its staff, so that they may take reports of
harassment in a sensitive manner, as well as be clear on the
difference between harassment and free speech.
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