2008 Woodie Awards
Green proposes diversity support group
By: Nick Persons
Issue date: 2/18/08 Section: News
A new diversity support group could be in the works at Central Michigan University.
Associate Vice President for Institutional Diversity Denise Green said she has been investigating the feasibility of creating such a group, along with possibly adding more CMU Police officers.
Green said she submitted a proposal outlining the options to University President Michael Rao at the beginning of February.
"Right now, we need to take a look at which of those components is the most feasible and then determine the best direction to take," she said.
During last week's Board of Trustees student liaison meeting, Rao said he wanted to explore the option of creating a network that would protect the CMU community.
The proposed student group's functions would be similar to that of Sexual Aggression Peer Advocates, Green said.
"Students relate to other students probably better than students relate to the administration, CMU Police or an Affirmative Action Office," Green said. "So getting students involved to take responsibility for some of these different situations and being able to assist their peers would be extremely important."
Shawn Wilson, assistant director of Minority Student Services, said any group that relates to and educates students on diversity is beneficial.
"I think it would have a positive effect," he said. "I think a group like that could help any and all students who wanted to take advantage of it."
Aside from a student-run group, Green also suggested more direct ways of deterring violence and discrimination.
"The other proposal that we submitted was to take a look at the CMU Police staff and to see if we can actually add a position or two," she said. "But it would go farther than simply increasing foot patrol."
Green endorsed the idea of adding a "diversity liaison" position to the force - someone whose responsibility would include dealing with matters of diversity. She said such a person would "close the loop" between students and officials.
"(We would) have an individual who understands from an enforcement perspective how those types of things work," she said.
Wilson said such a move would reassure students who might feel in danger.
"Faculty, staff and students like having that feeling of safety," he said. "Having officers on (duty) who are focused in that area would help increase that level of safety."
While additional officers might help the problem, Rao said during the meeting that student accountability is the best solution.
"You can't expect police to be everywhere," he said.
news@cm-life.com
Associate Vice President for Institutional Diversity Denise Green said she has been investigating the feasibility of creating such a group, along with possibly adding more CMU Police officers.
Green said she submitted a proposal outlining the options to University President Michael Rao at the beginning of February.
"Right now, we need to take a look at which of those components is the most feasible and then determine the best direction to take," she said.
During last week's Board of Trustees student liaison meeting, Rao said he wanted to explore the option of creating a network that would protect the CMU community.
The proposed student group's functions would be similar to that of Sexual Aggression Peer Advocates, Green said.
"Students relate to other students probably better than students relate to the administration, CMU Police or an Affirmative Action Office," Green said. "So getting students involved to take responsibility for some of these different situations and being able to assist their peers would be extremely important."
Shawn Wilson, assistant director of Minority Student Services, said any group that relates to and educates students on diversity is beneficial.
"I think it would have a positive effect," he said. "I think a group like that could help any and all students who wanted to take advantage of it."
Aside from a student-run group, Green also suggested more direct ways of deterring violence and discrimination.
"The other proposal that we submitted was to take a look at the CMU Police staff and to see if we can actually add a position or two," she said. "But it would go farther than simply increasing foot patrol."
Green endorsed the idea of adding a "diversity liaison" position to the force - someone whose responsibility would include dealing with matters of diversity. She said such a person would "close the loop" between students and officials.
"(We would) have an individual who understands from an enforcement perspective how those types of things work," she said.
Wilson said such a move would reassure students who might feel in danger.
"Faculty, staff and students like having that feeling of safety," he said. "Having officers on (duty) who are focused in that area would help increase that level of safety."
While additional officers might help the problem, Rao said during the meeting that student accountability is the best solution.
"You can't expect police to be everywhere," he said.
news@cm-life.com
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