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'I hursdav, Xmcinljcr 15, 2007
News
Page 2
Panel vies for increased diversity in workplace
By Clary Tedford
jfAT* Wftirfu
The Diversity Careers F^ancl hosted the
third annual Diversity in the Workplace:
Funding a Common Ground presentation
From 4-6 p.m. in the Mountain Suites of
the Flighsmith University Union on Nov.
7.
U.NC Asheville’s Career Center spon
sored the event to provide opportunities
for students to gain understanding alxtut
some of the issues pertaining to diversity
in the workplace, according to Deborah
■Miles, executive director of the Center for
Diversity Fiducation.
F7uring the presentation, panelists shared
their positive and negative experiences
related to diversity. Firian F7avis, special
events assistant at the Grove F’ark Inn,
shared a negative work experience due to
his sexual preference.
“As a gay man. I'm not allowed to
donate bl(H>d,” Davis said. “The Grove
Park Inn actually participated in the Red
Cross blood drive. I believe we actually
had a couple of stations set up on our
property not too long ago.”
F7avis attributed his frustration to the
fact that his O negative blood type would
have otherwise made him a perfect candi
date.
“1 know that I’m fine, my blood is clean.
It's not a problem, but 1 know why they
have the regulations,” he said. “But it still
angered me, considering how many indi
viduals fall into the gay, lesbian, bisexual
and transgender community at the Grove
F’ark Inn."
Another panelist talked about ethnic
diversity, citing demographics as an
important factor in determining workplace
diversity.
“As far as African-American folk in
downtown Asheville, it doesn’t look like it
caters to a lot of their social entertainment,
and that’s one of the biggest challenges.
It’s just so expensive to live here,” said
panelist Ernie “Big E” Howard, social
worker at the Randolph learning Center.
Racial discrimination in the workplace
could cost employers big bucks.
According to the United States Equal
Opportunity Commission, race-based
charges concerning workplace discrimina
tion accounted for $61.4 million dollars in
monetary damages in 2006.
The largest annual monetary compensa
tion since 1997 occurred in 2(X)1 with
$86.5 million dollars total for the year.
The EOC protects employees from dis
crimination, as long as their employers
have at least 15 employees.
According to Title Vll of the Civil
Rights Act of 1964, it is illegal for
employers with 15 or more employees to
discriminate on the basis of race, color,
national origin, sex and religion.
At the panel, speakers discussed how
race discrimination differs across cultures.
For example, Hope Huskey, business
development specialist for the Cherokee
Business Development Center, said she
was concerned about diversity in the
workplace on the Cherokee Indian
Reservation.
“Sometimes it’s hard to overcome a
community or small town mentality,”
Huskey said. “You want to make sure the
person is the best person for the Job and
for what you’re trying to do. You can’t just
say, ‘Oh, he’s so-and-so’s cousin’ or ‘We
really like him because he’s from a differ
ent Indian trilx;.”’
Title VIF applies to state and local gov
ernments, as well as employment agen
cies, labor organizations, and the federal
government. These rules do not apply to
Indian reservations. Effective May 18,
1988, Section 703(i) of Title 'VFF of the
Civil Rights Act of 1964 sets forth appro
priate measures for employers wishing to
uphold the American Indian preference
exemption.
Students at UNC Asheville agree overall
Oksana Kukharets - Staff Photogr.aphb
Panelists Brian Davis, special events assistant at Grove Park Inn; Johnnie Grant, owner and publisher of Urban News; Eric “Big
E” Howard, school social worker at Randolph Learning Center; Hope Huskey, counseling and technical assistance to business
owners on the Qualla Boundary; and Sarah Nunez, a consultant for non-profits wait for questions while Holly Witenmyer talks
to the audience at UNC Asheville’s third annual career panel, focusing on diversity in the workplace.
workplace diversity is important.
“I work construction and there’s no
diversity in my workplace,” said
Brantly Tyson, senior art student. “It’s
good to give everyone an equal oppor
tunity.”
Ben Berger, senior literature student,
said he might not have realized how
important diversity was if it was not for
his current job at Rezaz, a restaurant
whose owner is Persian.
“Before that I worked at the Biltmore
Forest Country Club, which hired people
who knew what the country club expecta
tion was,” he said. “It had very strict rules
and regulations. I think that we’re work
ing toward that equality we crave and that
we try to have,” he said. “I don’t think we
will ever reach it, of course, but at least it’s
an ideal.”
Spectator Roger Miller, licen.sed clinical
social worker at Randolph Learning
Center, said employers need to evaluate
workers on job performance as opposed to
where they come from or how they look.
“The workplace really needs to reflect
the makeup of our community. It’s a
diverse community,” he said.
The panel also included Johnnie Grant,
Urban News owner and publisher; and
Sarah Nunez, consultant for non-profit
and special events including Fiesta Latina,
Miles served as co-moderator with
Bryan Stuart Schaffer, assistant professor
in the management and accountancy
department.
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