How do I say this...?

I have noticed that there is much confusion among candidates and voters regarding the issues and changes they are passionate about and the administrative changes that can be made within the role of the Vice President of Diversity. Let me give you some examples.

#1 While I would like to say...

"I want to improve communication between diverse groups on campus"
-- I cannot force groups to communicate and this sentence does not give you an idea of a solution to the proposed problem. Instead I would say...

"In order to improve communication between different groups on campus I would like to reinstate and reform the Diversity Task Force."
--As a student administrator I have the opportunity and jurisdiction to form relevant and necessary committees to serve the purpose of supporting and promoting diversity on campus.

#2 Some might be inclined to say...

"I don't think that students should have to prioritize their identities on campus."
--This is a great personal claim but what does this have to do with the student administration and its duties? Instead I would say...

"To create a promote an inclusive atmosphere for students, as VP for Diversity I would work with the Admissions office to make their paperwork and processes, such as applications for admissions, to be more inclusive of multiple identities. I would also engage with student clubs, groups, and offices to develop co-sponsorship opportunities, cross-campus discussion, and facilitate the creation of a map of cross-cultural resources available on and off campus (created through the reinstated Diversity Task Force and promoted by the campus newspapers and local organizations)."

#3 While sometimes I like to say...

"I want to improve accessibility on campus and the transparency of procedures for accommodations."
--I should really be saying...

"By working with campus resources such as the disAbility Resources on accommodations and the Equal Opportunity Office on accessibility and discrimination issues, I would like to provide greater transparency of resources and services available by provoking discussion between these offices and encouraging and working with them to evaluate and/or improve tier procedures and policies for clarity. I would also like to add "accommodations" to the AS website under "Services" tab as well as providing training materials and information to programmers, graphic designers, and AS offices/clubs so that they are more aware of the growing population that needs reasonable accommodation."

In short, it is all about the resources available to the VP for Diversity and how he/she utilizes them. There is no making up a resource to solve a problem, but a VP can be creative in how to use the existing resources in making informed administrative decisions.

If you have any questions or comments about this, please let me know!

Getting the Word Out....

Hello all! I thought I would add a few links to some articles I have been in the past two years. I just want you to get a feel of what I have done for students during my college career.


AS Review 2009:
"Disability Awareness Week" April 13, 2009
http://www.asreview.as.wwu.edu/?p=1008

The Western Front 2009:
"AS Prepares for Elections" April 21, 2009
http://westernfrontonline.net/2009042110916/news/as-prepares-for-elections/

"Comedian Josh Blue Performs at PAC" April 21, 2009
http://westernfrontonline.net/2009042110913/arts-life/comedian-josh-blue-performs-at-pac/

"Western celebrates student Disability Awareness Week" April 17, 2009
http://westernfrontonline.net/2009041710902/arts-life/western-celebrates-student-disability-awareness-week/

AS Review 2007-08:
"New AS Club Expands Concept of Diversity" April 2007
http://www.asreview.as.wwu.edu/?p=529

Western Front 2007-08:
"Students Create New Associated Students Club to focus on Disability Awareness" November 16, 2007
http://westernfrontonline.net/200711169350/art-life/students-create-new-associated-students-club-to-focus-on-disability-awareness/

"Students for Disability Awareness co-host week long event" April 8, 2008
http://westernfrontonline.net/200804089827/news/students-for-disability-awareness-co-host-week-long-event/

"Art and Life: Abled" July 11, 2008
http://westernfrontonline.net/freshman-issue/abled/

Thanks for reading, but remember, I am not endorsed by Students for Disability Awareness though I am cited as the Vice President in these articles.

What Can You Do?

Some people ask the question, what can I do during elections? Here are just a few things that really make a difference. Your voice matters and it should be heard.

1. VOTE April 27-May 1 either in the polling stations in Red Square and around campus or on mywestern.

2. Ask questions! Don't be afraid to ask and find answers.

3. Become aware of campus issues. Research and ask campus resources about issues and how you can be involved.

4. Provoke discussion. Discuss these issues and your opinions with others on campus. Talk to offices or clubs or whatever outlet you can find.

My Platform for You!

I won’t allow our campus to ignore the beauty of decision making through multi-perspective collaboration.

While VP for Students for Disability Awareness and Assistant to the VPs of Activities and Diversity I have:
- Coordinated Disability Awareness Week with various offices and local organizations
- Advocated for students with disabilities and their allies
- Learned firsthand the functions of the VP for Diversity
- Served as a resource for students on campus

As Vice President for Diversity I hope to:
- Reform the Diversity Task Force into a more effective student advisory committee
- Work with disAbility Resources for Students on the accommodations process
- Assist social issues and cultural clubs to foster relationships in the campus community to promote solidarity, inclusion, and awareness.

A Bit about Britt

I realize that by telling you all about my platform, I really am not telling you anything about me personally, only my ideas for next year. Here is a little about me:

-- I am the current Assistant for the VPs of Activities and Diversity
(as the Assistant to these fine VPs, I serve on Activities Council as secretary and served as the interim ESC Steering Committee secretary).
--I have been the VP for Students for Disability Awareness for the last two years, as well as a co-founder of the club in fall 2007.
(This year I have coordinated Disability Awareness Week 2009 and have coordinated disability awareness independent studies to spread awareness about disability culture and teach program planning).
-- I am currently a Sophomore and intending to major in Political Science, Economics, and Philosophy. My GPA is 3.58.
-- I love Western and I work hard every day to help students in any way I can.

If you want to know more, ask! Comment on my posts! Thanks for reading!

My Platform...#1 Diversity Task Force

MY PLATFORM…EXPLAINED
#1 Reform the Diversity Task Force to make it a more student inclusive advisory committee

Currently, the DTF does not meet and has not met regularly since February 2008. The current VP for Diversity has been having difficulty making the committee relevant to campus issues as a task force and also in getting its members to meet regularly.

In terms of diversity-related committees on campus, there are several university committees:
-President’s Multicultural Advisory Board (VP for Diversity serves as advisor)
-Disability Advisory committee (1 at large student member)
-Diversity Achievement Award Committee (1 student at large member)
-Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Concerns Committee (4 students appointed by LGBTA)

There are only a few student-run diversity committees:
-AS Ethnic Student Center Steering Committee
-AS Diversity Task Force

In the past there have been incidents regarding issues of diversity, such as the Roaming Moanies and Chick Fillet fiascos. Controversy over differing perspectives of the student population on campus should be dealt not with in increased confusion but by immediate investigation and action through a designated student run committee that reflects student voices and perspectives. Wouldn’t it have been nice to have an advisory committee assist the AS Board of Directors and related offices in investigating and interpreting these issues? Wouldn’t it have been nice to have student voices reflected in the decisions made by the Associated Students, versus those made by the seven members of the Board of Directors?

As one of the two student-run diversity committees on campus, the Diversity Task Force is crucial in providing a well-rounded reflection of campus perspectives.

My vision for Diversity Task Force:
-Purpose: to act as an advisory committee to the AS Board of Directors on diversity related issues on campus. The Force will provide meaningful analysis on issues and work to promote inclusion, awareness, and solidarity on campus.
-Membership:
Chair, AS VP for Diversity
3 Ethnic Student Center Representatives
1 LGBTA representative
1 Women’s Center Representative
1 Social Issues Resource Center Representative
1 Student-at-large representative from Disability Advisory Committee
3 Students-at-large from Social Issues/Cultural Clubs appointed by Activities Council

My Platform...#2 Disability Accommodations

#2 Work with disAbility Resources for Students on the accommodations process
Do you know the process for requesting disability accommodations? Do you know the process for grieving the accommodations or lack of them if you are dissatisfied? Did you know that the student must always take the first step in both processes? Do you know what kinds of accommodations are available to students with disabilities?

About the Accommodations Processes:
Let’s start from the beginning. The University disAbility Resources for Students office is responsible for proving “reasonable accommodation” for students with disabilities. Under policy 1 of the disability accommodations, a reasonable accommodation is “a modification or adjustment that enables a qualified student with a disability to enjoy equal access to WWU's academic programs, services, or activities.” It is the responsibility of the student to initiate the process of accommodation by appealing to the office and also provide documentation of said disability. The Director of the disAbility Resources for Students office will then evaluate the situation case by case and provide accommodations as he/she feels necessary.

If the student is not happy with the accommodations that he/she is given or is denied accommodations, he/she may go through the grieving process. The student is also responsible for requesting this process and Procedure 9 in the University policy describes the process. It requires that the student first contact the Director of DRS and when dissatisfied with his evaluation and reply, the student can seek the Vice President of Student Affairs, who then evaluates and makes necessary changes. And that’s basically it.

If students feel the need to make an illegal discrimination complaint, they may do so through the Equal Opportunity Office, United States Department of Education, and Washington State Human Rights Commission.
For more information on university policy and procedures for accommodations, visit http://www.wwu.edu/depts/drs/policy.htm

Foreseeable Problems:
As VP for Students for Disability Awareness I have had to deal with many complaints regarding the accommodations provided by the disAbility Resources for Students. They aren’t fast enough, they don’t give me what I want…they listen, but they just don’t understand. Students have come to me dissatisfied with the quality of accommodations they have received. There are reasons for this, and these are what I think they are:

-There is a grey area in accommodations that separates academic use and medical use: Accommodations for purely academic use are those that are used to affect the student’s academic achievements and quality of education, while others are for purely medical use prescribed by a physician or other health care provider. The reason why there is a separation is because medical uses are more individualistic and apply only to that single person, while academic accommodations can be applied more broadly. Though accommodations are made through a case by case basis, they are not made to suit each case perfectly. Problems with chairs, for example, are one thing, whereas requiring a certain type of chair is another. This grey area is difficult because medical accommodations often affect academic success.

-Just like admissions preying on cultural diversity for state funding, the university is subject to state funding allocated in accordance to the disabled student population. With community programs and colleges with more local students with disabilities attending, you may find nicer chairs, more state-of-the-art equipment, and so on, because the funding allows it. Because of current budget cuts and small population relative to total attending students, students with disabilities at Western may not enjoy the same quality of accommodations as another school. There really are only 400 students registered with the DRS, which is only about 2.9% of Western’s population.