Spring Break
CASA Day to explore campus diversity
Kevin Rand
Issue date: 4/10/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
From 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. in room 225 at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library, students and faculty from the College of Applied Arts and Sciences are holding a "free and open" celebration to discuss diversity issues within the college and university.
Barbara Conry, the acting dean for the College of Applied Science and Arts, said she is scheduled to be the opening speaker at the admission-free "CASA Day," where she is welcoming the audience and the student and faculty panels. Afterward, the panels will speak about topics related to SJSU diversity.
She said the student panel is discussing some of their successes along with their challenges related to diversity in and outside of the classroom.
These conversations will address some of the difficulties students with diverse backgrounds might face, like dealing with language barriers and cultural differences.
"It's a discussion, but it's a meaningful discussion," she said. "We talk about where we are and where we want to be."
The faculty is talking about some of their practices in relation to fostering and accommodating student diversity, she said.
Gilbert Villareal, a junior majoring in cultural anthropology, is moderating the student panel.
He said that within the discussions, "diversity is going to be used as a 'broad' term, which includes race, gender, cultural background, etc."
The students, comprised of a "diverse" panel, are addressing some of the things that have benefited their progress at SJSU. However, they will also have the opportunity to speak about those things that might not be working for them or that could be changed, Villareal said.
He said the faculty is taking note of the important discussion topics so that they can give recommendations to the university.
CASA Day was inspired by a conference held in Asilomar, Calif. that included faculty and students from other universities discussing diversity, Villareal said.
The conference tackled a wide range of issues regarding diversity from topics about social background to issues about students with physical disabilities.
CASA Day is now the first event in a specific campus-wide effort to "give students the access to everything they need to be successful," he said.
"All the colleges throughout the university are working with the president and provost for the 'inclusive excellence' program of Vision 2010," he said.
Although the College of Applied Science and Arts will be hosting the event, Villareal said, all students and faculty are welcome to attend the discussions, which begin with a free continental breakfast at 8:30 a.m.
Conry, the acting CASA dean, said that there was some discussion to cancel the events because of the recent passing of the former dean, Inger Sagatun-Edwards, who died from cancer last Monday morning.
However, Sagatun-Edwards was involved in the planning of the event, Conry said.
"She would have wanted us to go ahead and do this," Conry said. "This is part of Inger too."
The CASA Day student and faculty representatives are from most of the departments in the college, which includes kinesiology, health sciences, journalism and mass communications, hospitality management and nursing, Conry said.
"From attending the conference in Asilomar and listening to other speakers," Villareal said, "they have told us it is great to have the university moving in this direction."
APRIL 10 SCHEDULE
8:30-9:30 Continental Breakfast, Welcome and Discussion of Diversity
9:30-9:45 Break
9:45-10:45 Student Panel: Experiences (good and bad) in Inclusive Excellence and Diversity
10:45-11:00 Break
11:00-12:00 Faculty Panel: Best Practices in Inclusive Excellence on Departments and Schools in CASA
12:00-1:30 BBQ (at the BBQ pits near CCB, cost is $2)
2:00-3:00 Careers In Aging Week Panel: Your career in the New Age: Secrets to Lifelong Success (Almaden Room)
Barbara Conry, the acting dean for the College of Applied Science and Arts, said she is scheduled to be the opening speaker at the admission-free "CASA Day," where she is welcoming the audience and the student and faculty panels. Afterward, the panels will speak about topics related to SJSU diversity.
She said the student panel is discussing some of their successes along with their challenges related to diversity in and outside of the classroom.
These conversations will address some of the difficulties students with diverse backgrounds might face, like dealing with language barriers and cultural differences.
"It's a discussion, but it's a meaningful discussion," she said. "We talk about where we are and where we want to be."
The faculty is talking about some of their practices in relation to fostering and accommodating student diversity, she said.
Gilbert Villareal, a junior majoring in cultural anthropology, is moderating the student panel.
He said that within the discussions, "diversity is going to be used as a 'broad' term, which includes race, gender, cultural background, etc."
The students, comprised of a "diverse" panel, are addressing some of the things that have benefited their progress at SJSU. However, they will also have the opportunity to speak about those things that might not be working for them or that could be changed, Villareal said.
He said the faculty is taking note of the important discussion topics so that they can give recommendations to the university.
CASA Day was inspired by a conference held in Asilomar, Calif. that included faculty and students from other universities discussing diversity, Villareal said.
The conference tackled a wide range of issues regarding diversity from topics about social background to issues about students with physical disabilities.
CASA Day is now the first event in a specific campus-wide effort to "give students the access to everything they need to be successful," he said.
"All the colleges throughout the university are working with the president and provost for the 'inclusive excellence' program of Vision 2010," he said.
Although the College of Applied Science and Arts will be hosting the event, Villareal said, all students and faculty are welcome to attend the discussions, which begin with a free continental breakfast at 8:30 a.m.
Conry, the acting CASA dean, said that there was some discussion to cancel the events because of the recent passing of the former dean, Inger Sagatun-Edwards, who died from cancer last Monday morning.
However, Sagatun-Edwards was involved in the planning of the event, Conry said.
"She would have wanted us to go ahead and do this," Conry said. "This is part of Inger too."
The CASA Day student and faculty representatives are from most of the departments in the college, which includes kinesiology, health sciences, journalism and mass communications, hospitality management and nursing, Conry said.
"From attending the conference in Asilomar and listening to other speakers," Villareal said, "they have told us it is great to have the university moving in this direction."
APRIL 10 SCHEDULE
8:30-9:30 Continental Breakfast, Welcome and Discussion of Diversity
9:30-9:45 Break
9:45-10:45 Student Panel: Experiences (good and bad) in Inclusive Excellence and Diversity
10:45-11:00 Break
11:00-12:00 Faculty Panel: Best Practices in Inclusive Excellence on Departments and Schools in CASA
12:00-1:30 BBQ (at the BBQ pits near CCB, cost is $2)
2:00-3:00 Careers In Aging Week Panel: Your career in the New Age: Secrets to Lifelong Success (Almaden Room)
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