UC Davis’ celebration of diversity soared even higher this year when Chancellor Linda Katehi joined faculty, staff and student leaders in reaffirming the 20-year-old Principles of Community.

Then, as is the custom at the Soaring to New Heights celebration, the university honored the people who over the last year served as the best examples of the Principles of Community in action.

“Our Principles of Community represent a promise we make to one another when we join the UC Davis family — a promise to learn from and celebrate our differences,” Katehi told an audience in Freeborn Hall on April 13. Organizers sold 600 tickets for the international buffet luncheon.

“I extend my thanks to all of you for being here today,” Katehi said. “By your presence, you have affirmed the high value UC Davis places on civility and respect.”

UC Davis adopted its Principles of Community in 1990 and, prior to last week, had reaffirmed the document three times: in 1996, 2001 and 2008.

Two factors weighed in the decision to reaffirm the document yet again: the 20th anniversary and recent acts of intolerance:

Two swastikas turned up in residence halls — one carved into the door of a Jewish student’s room, another etched into a bulletin board — and four more showed up in spray paint elsewhere on campus. A graffiti attack left words like “homos,” “fags” and “queers” in spray paint at the entrance to the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Resource Center.

“Though we have faced challenges in creating an inclusive community, our commitment to these principles remains steadfast,” Katehi said, “because we understand that the diversity of our community is what drives creativity, progress and success.”

Katehi noted how the campus came together at a town hall meeting “to denounce the hatred and to commit ourselves to positive change to ensure a campus climate that is accepting, affirming and recognizes that diversity is one of our greatest advantages.”

“We must now take the actions needed to declare UC Davis a ‘hate-free campus’ — a campus where each and every one of us feels safe and respected. Without that very basic guarantee, what kind of a campus can we be?”

Katehi, having started as chancellor only last August, had not previously signed the Principles of Community.

Next speaker: May 5

To go along with the reaffirmation of the Principles of Community, Chancellor Katehi is bringing in speakers to address such topics as civility and diversity. The next event is set for May 5: “A Conversation with Tim Wise: Color Blindness? Whiteness?”

Wise is nationally known for his speeches, books and training programs against racism. His books include Between Barack and a Hard Place: Race and Whiteness in the Age of Obama and Colorblind: The Rise of Post-Racial Politics and the Retreat from Racial Equity.

His talk at UC Davis is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. in 194 Chemistry. The program is free and open to the public.

The Cross-Cultural Center is coordinating the event, with support from the Campus Council on Community and Diversity, Student Affairs and other units.

DIVERSITY AND PRINCIPLES OF COMMUNITY ACHIEVEMENT RECOGNITION AWARDS

Individual Awards

Maria Saldana-Seibert, academic adviser, languages and literatures; and chair, Staff Diversity Administrative Advisory Committee.

Regina Canegan, administrative assistant, Humanities Institute (Deanna Falge Award)

Sheri Atkinson, director, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Resource Center (Diversity Leadership Award)

Team Award

Diversity Leadership Development Program (diversity and social justice training for UC Davis undergraduates) — Christie Navarro, Center for Leadership Learning; Ken Barnes and Lisa Sanders, Internship and Career Center; Mikael Villalobos, Campus Community Relations; Steven Baissa, Cross-Cultural Center; Sonia-Melitta Diaz Montoya, Women’s Resources and Research Center; and Atkinson of the LGBTRC.

Teams: Honorable Mention

Education Abroad Center

Principles of Community online training — Binnie Singh, Academic Personnel; Lisa Brodkey, director, Sexual Harassment Education; and Villalobos of Campus Community Relations.

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) Transfer Day — Connie Champagne, College of Bio-logical Sciences; Ana Corbacho, Center for Biophotonics; Tanya Culliver and Renee Maldonado, College of Engineering; Mike Dang, Under-graduate Admissions; Raynell Hamilton and Tammy Hoyer, Undergraduate Research Center; Phil Knox, Student Academic Success Center; Gloria Myers, Graduate Studies; and Yayoi Takamura, Chemical Engineering and Material Science.

Annual and Special Gifts Program, Telephone Outreach Program — Cal Aggie Alumni Association and Cal Aggie Student Alumni Association

Aggie Classrooms Outreach Program — Student Alumni Assoc-iation: Amalia Suarez, director, Aggie Classrooms; Jenny De Vita, vice president, Community Development; and Julia Nguyen, president, Student Alumni Association. Cal Aggie Alumni Association: Jane Eadie, director, Programs, and adviser, Student Alumni Association; and Brooke Converse, alumni communications officer.

TANA Community Art Center — Carlos Jackson and Malaquias Montoya, Chicana/o studies; Sue Della, Real Estate Services; Bill Starr, Design and Construction Management; Claudia Morain and Jim Sweeeney; University Communications; and Gary Sandy, Government and Community Relations.

OTHER AWARDS

Soaring to New Heights also serves as the venue for the presentation of the annual Disability Awareness Awards and the Calvin E. Handy Leadership Award:

Disability Awareness Awards

Given to supervisors and managers who have demonstrated leadership, exemplary service and commitment to the recruitment, hiring and retention of employees with disabilities.

Teresa Farley, management services officer, Center for Healthcare Policy and Research.

Jan Barnett, associate director, Memorial Union Auxiliary Services.

Brian Wadell, director, and Christy Pearce, business manager, Repro Graphics.

James Cravotta, animal health technician supervisor, William Ferrier, senior veterinarian, and Victor Lukas, attending veterinarian, Campus Veterinary Services.

Kristee Haggins, training director, and Emil Rodolfa, director, Counseling and Psychological Services.

Teresa Brown, manager, Ana Kitchen, supervisor, and Lina Layiktez, director, Campus Events and Visitor Services.

Shannon Tanguay, management services officer, environmental design.

Calvin E. Handy Leadership Award

Established in 2005 and first presented to the award’s namesake, the police chief emeritus, and now given to others who exemplify his commitment to public service and leadership. Presented this year to Valerie Lucus, emergency manager.

More information on the Principles of Community: principles.ucdavis.edu