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TH THE COST OF KNOWLEDGE Not all students sold on textbook prices at campus bookstore. » PAGE 4 PUniNG TALENT TO THE TEST Campus Outreach event showcases student skills. THE PENDULU ELON, NORTH CAROLINA j WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2012 j VOLUME 38, EDITION 4 »PAGE 13 www.ElonPendulum.com While Elon University aims to create an atmosphere conducive to diversity, acts of discrimination continue to occur on campus. Campus-wide forums create an environment trSsrbllh'ii^s.“‘'“ Despite multi-faith initatives, not all students perceive campus as diverse Grace Elkus News Editor The Interfaith Youth Core, a non profit organization that promotes Interfalth conversation, held a campus-wide meeting concerning religious 66 percent reported feeling campus was at least moderately divided w^ith regard to religtous and spiritual difference diversity and Interfalth cooperation on college campuses. The Feb. 7 meeting focused on the goals and purpose of the IFYC and concluded with the results from research conducted on Elon University's campus. Phil Smith, associate chaplain and director of religious and spiritual life at Elon, provided context for the IFYC before turning the podium over to Megan Hughes-Johnson, director of campus engagements for IFYC. IFYC looks for two sets of outcomes when building a culture of interfaith cooperation on a college campus, according to Hughes-Johnson. The first is student outcomes, which involves how students know something about another person’s 78 percent reported moderate amounts of cfiallenglng, stimulating interactions 29 percent reported bw levels of meariingful cross worldview interaction 30 percent reported hearing insensitive remarks concerning a particular religious group Information courtesy of IFYC tradition and the nature of the interfalth interaction that takes place between them. The second is campus outcomes, which look at whether the campus culture is a place that encourages this type of learning and interaction. “If you were to drop down into the middle of Elon's campus, had you never been here before, how would you know that Elon is a place that is thinking about these Issues and engaging these issues?” she said. There are three initiatives at Elon that directly relate to the issue of multi-faith cooperation, according to Smith. Better Together, a student organization on campus, was created by students who trained with IFYC. The organization inspired a multi- faith learning community, which is made up of 11 students representing six different religions. And the Multi faith Center will serve as a central place where anyone can come and learn about the religious differences that exist on campus. Smith said. Survey results In the fall of 2011, IFYC sent out an online survey to Elon students that measured student attitudes, behaviors and knowledge regarding religious identity, diversity and interfaith cooperation on campus. Questionnaires were also sent out to student leaders, staff and faculty, and individual interviews and focus groups were held. “Our job this year is really to hold DIVERSITY I PAGE 3 Council proposes policy to address bias, discrimination on campus Melissa Kansky News Editor The Elon University Staff Advisory Council and Academic Council devised a new bias and discrimination policy inclusive of all types of harassment and discrimination, offering clarification for the process of reporting an incident of harassment. The Academic Council proposed the policy to faculty and staff and will vote on the policy Feb. 17. The policy shows the victim that there are procedures in place to provide support, said Ann Cahill, philosophy professor and chair of Sexual Assault and Gender Issues Council. “It’s a much more holistic approach and much more comprehensive," she said. While the previous policy only discussed sexual harassment, the revisions incorporate bias of any categories that exist in the faculty and staff handbook. The proposed bias and discrimination policy also details degrees of confidentiality for all parties involved during the process. Cahill and SAGIC began revising the policy in 2010, but a 2011 “dear colleague” letter from the Office of Civil Rights detailing standards for addressing acts of sexual harassment, coupled with the racial slur incidents in the fall galvanized the university to address instances of bias more readily, she said. “(The fall incidents) concerned a lot of people,” said Cassie Kircher, associate professor of English and chair of Academic Council. “We have to do this better." Changes reflect requirements according to Title IX legislation, which describes necessary procedures for sexual harrassment incidents, but Elon's policy applies such laws to all forms of discrimination and bias. “It's not my goal in working hard Proposed changes and revisions to bias and discrimination policy: • Inclusion of more detail • Addition of new Human Resource position dedicated to investigating instances of harassment and discrimination on campus • Broaden types of harassment recognized in the bias and discrimination policy • Option of formal and informal process • Clarify degrees of confidentiality available to plaintiff and accused • Creation of Education and Response Team on these policies and procedures to necessarily change behavior," Cahill said. “I don’t think behavior is changed necessarily by policies and procedures." Instead, the proposed revisions communicate that the university will not tolerate any acts of discrimination POLICY I PAGE 8 Ongoing response to discrimination at Elon ► Sept. 7, 2011 Sept. 13,2011 Junior Brenna President Leo ' ►Sept. 15, 2011 Humphries reports Lambert gives a Lambert announces i * Feb. 1,2012 ^ _ moving out of ^ ► Sept. 10, 2011 speecfi on diversity at the creatbn of ^ ► Sept. 30, 2011 A student reports > Feb. 13^14,2012 * the way of an A second student College Coffee, met an incident team Not on our Campus t>eing subjected to A new bias and ▼ F©b. 17, 2012 advancing car and reports subjection witti a public response to respond to hosts a watk a homophobic sJur discrimination policy 1 Academic Council being subjected to to a racial slur while from ttie Now What instances of against bias aixj while walkir>g on presented to faculty 1 will vote on the a racial slur walking on campus. movement. harassment. discrimination. campus. and staff. | proposed policy. FOR THE LATEST COVERAGE AND EXCLUSIVE WEB CONTENT, VISIT ELONPENDULUM.COM
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