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Responses
to College Republicans' Acts
PENN STATE ADMINISTRATION SUMMARIZES
RECENT EFFORTS TO ERADICATE INTOLERANCE
The discovery of hateful photos on the personal web page of
the president of the College Republicans was met with outrage by students,
faculty, and staff in the Penn State community. University leaders condemned
this behavior and spoke out against acts that foster racism, sexism,
homophobia and incivility.
Penn State is committed to a campus climate where the humanity and dignity
of each individual is respected. The recently updated and published
plan, "A Framework to Foster Diversity at Penn State, 2004-09,"
outlines the promotion of diversity through institutional leadership,
financial support for programs, and strategies and approaches that encourage
the development of a multi-cultural campus.
Building on a long list of University-wide and college-specific diversity
related initiatives, President Spanier has asked the offices of Student
Affairs, Educational Equity, and Undergraduate Education to review recent
suggestions from faculty, staff, and student organizations for any potential
additional areas in which further progress can be achieved. The University
will also seek input from the Commission for Women, the Commission on
Racial/Ethnic Diversity, and the Commission on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual
and Transgender Equity, as well as The Forum On Black Affairs and other
interested groups for insights on ways to improve the campus climate
for diversity.
Because of the many concerns that have arisen among groups on campus,
the University administration felt it important to provide an update
on steps being taken to address intolerance at Penn State.
1. STATEMENTS OF CONDEMNATION
The University issued a statement condemning the photos that
were posted by the president of the College Republicans and linked from
the group's web page. President Spanier also issued a separate statement.
Many other University groups have similarly condemned the photos. University
statements included a call for the removal of the photos and for an
apology from the person who put them up. Those statements can be found
at:
 Dec.
5, 2003: Statement from Penn State President Graham
Spanier
http://live.psu.edu/story/4931
Dec.
7, 2003: University responds to College Republicans'
acts
http://live.psu.edu/story/4932
Dec.
9, 2003: University Faculty Senate supports president's
statement
http://www.psu.edu/ufs/Bise%20comment.htm
Dec.
12, 2003: Statement by Patreese D. Ingram, President
of the
the Forum on Black Affairs
http://www.equity.psu.edu/press/p_ingram_12_12_03.asp
Dec.
17, 2003: Statement by the Faculty of Color, and other
Caring
and Concerned Faculty at Penn State
http://www.equity.psu.edu/press/12_17_03.asp
Jan.
6 , 2004: Joint Commissions Position Statement
http://www.equity.psu.edu/press/jcc_position_statement.pdf
2. SUPPORT FOR A NEW REPUBLICAN ORGANIZATION ON CAMPUS
While the University has no legal means to mandate a resignation
of the president of the College Republicans, Republicans from far and
wide have condemned the incident and called for the resignations of
the president and other officers of the College Republicans. A new group
of Young Republicans is forming on campus. The University will support
their efforts to launch an alternative for student Republicans.
3. FACILITATING DIALOG
The Office of Student Affairs and the Office of Educational
Equity have been meeting with student groups to deal with their concerns
about the bias incident and to promote legal and appropriate responses
for our student groups and the entire University community. Vice President
for Student Affairs Vicky Triponey and Vice Provost for Educational
Equity Terrell Jones will continue to provide leadership for the University
in these discussions.
4. CURRICULAR CHANGES
The bias incident reinforces the continuing need to educate our students
about multicultural issues. The University Faculty Senate has previously
committed to developing a revised curricular requirement that better
reflects the domestic multicultural experience. President Spanier and
Provost Erickson both have indicated their belief that the current intercultural
and international competence requirement is too broadly defined, and
the focus of the requirement needs to be narrowed. They are pleased
that the chair of the Senate has convened a special conference committee
to work through current differences between Senate committees, and the
President and Provost have urged the Senate to complete its work on
this important item before the end of this academic year.
5. FTCAP AND ORIENTATION CHANGES
In an effort to increase awareness of diversity issues and
the need for tolerance within the Penn State community, new and substantial
information on diversity topics has been included in the Freshman, Testing,
Counseling, and Advising Program (FTCAP) and Penn State's freshman orientation
program.
In addition, a letter is sent to each in-coming freshmen from the president
of the University that includes a copy of the Penn State Principles.
The vice provost for educational equity also sends each freshman a letter
stressing the importance of diversity and understanding differences.
6. STUDENT GOVERNMENT
Student government leaders are discussing the inclusion of diversity
education as a part of their leadership training for incoming student
leaders, as well as including an anti-discrimination policy as part
of the constitutions of student organizations.
7. ON-GOING COMMITMENT
Penn State will continue to stress the importance of diversity,
civility and tolerance, and will continue to strive to ensure that all
students, faculty and staff feel welcome and safe at Penn State. The
University has invested substantial resources to foster diversity at
Penn State and remains fully committed to this goal.
Comments about the content of this page can be sent to the Vice
Provost for Educational Equity.
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