Dear campus community:

Last week a group of our students, joined by staff and faculty, sponsored a rally and teach-in drawing attention to the rifts and tensions within our campus community. They noted the need for increased student support services, particularly for the Asian Pacific Islander communities on the campus, but more generally for those support services that provide guidance and training to students in areas of cultural diversity and cultural competence, substance abuse education, and conflict management. In addition to noting the need for programs in these areas, they drew attention to the need for increased levels of staffing in a number of different areas that serve students. Students also called for academic offerings in the languages and cultures of their communities.

The interests and concerns expressed at the rally are shared by many on the campus and, in large part, are consistent with priorities we have identified within Student Affairs. Efforts have been underway to address many of these issues, but these efforts have been slow, constrained by the financial resources available to us. As our resources increase, we look forward to enhancing the services that can be provided to students in support of campus climate and community

As a first step, Elizabeth Langland, Dean of Humanities, Arts, and Cultural Studies, and I have committed to jointly funding full-time Student Affairs Officer positions in both Asian American and Native American studies beginning in July 2001. These positions will provide academic support and advising to students, assist in cultural programming, support students as they connect with leadership opportunities and internships, and serve as liaisons between the students, the academic programs, and units in Student Affairs. We have encouraged the ASA program and the NAS department to work with us in developing the position descriptions and initiating the recruitments.

Other actions suggested at the rally or by the Council for Asian Pacific American Affairs cannot be resolved quite so quickly. The first step toward implementation involves discussion by administrators and members of the campus community. I have asked the Student Affairs Task Force on Campus Community to explore and consider development of several of the recommendations, including those on training in cultural diversity, cultural competence, and conflict management. I have offered to facilitate discussions on other points and these discussions are also taking place now.

We recognize the thoughtfulness of the suggested university actions and, as possible, will work in partnership with the students, staff, and faculty to translate the suggestions into reality. Recognizing both the merit of the recommendations and the improved budgetary climate, I believe that we will be able to move forward in areas that will support our campus community

• -Carol Wall, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs