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DIVERSITYNOTES
 | June 2008 - Catherine Hopkins is named Director of LSU Women's Center
Dear Friends,
Catherine Hopkins has been appointed the director for the LSU Women’s Center, effective June 1. As director, Hopkins will provide expertise and serve as a resource for the University and community on women and gender issues, while assessing and advocating for needs of women students of diverse backgrounds. Her other responsibilities will include establishing and maintaining relationships with colleagues in other local and national women's centers and organizations; directing and coordinating the Center's programmatic efforts for faculty, staff, and student populations; working closely with the LSU Women's and Gender Studies department and the University Council on Women; and developing initiatives that promote an equitable, non-sexist and culturally pluralistic environment.
Hopkins will have an automatic appointment to the University Council on Women and the Women’s Council of Greater Baton Rouge and will report to the Office of Equity, Diversity & Community Outreach.
I am very pleased that Catherine Hopkins has accepted the position as director. She brings a great deal of skill and energy necessary to enhance our Women’s Center to national acclaim.
For more information, you may visit the Profiles section of our website.
Vice Provost Albert
Equity, Diversity & Community Outreach
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April 2008 - Women's Center Director Search Update
Dear Friends,
I am pleased to announce that the search committee for the LSU Women’s Center Director position has invited three candidates to participate in an on-campus interview. In addition to meeting with me and the search committee, the candidates will have the opportunity to meet campus and community constituents. You are invited to participate in the “community hour” during each visit so that you are able to interact with the candidates during their visit and offer the search committee your assessment on the “goodness of fit” for this important post. Thank you for your interest in and commitment to the LSU Women’s Center. We look forward to seeing you at each “community hour” scheduled for the candidates. For dates and times, please see the schedule below:
Candidate #1: Erika Bowles, North Carolina State University
Monday, April 28, 2008
Community Forum: 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m., LSU Women's Center
Candidate #2: Lisa Verrett, Louisiana State University
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Community Forum: 2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m., LSU Women's Center
Candidate #3: Catherine Hopkins, University of Arkansas
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Community Forum: 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m., LSU Women's Center
As the search process continues, please refer to this webpage for any updates. You may also contact EDCO at diversity@lsu.edu.
Vice Provost Albert
Equity, Diversity & Community Outreach
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Spring 2008 - The Status of the LSU Women's Center
Dear Friends,
The LSU Women’s Center, established in 1995*, promotes the advancement of gender equity and women’s well being through its services, advocacy efforts, educational programming, and student leadership opportunities. The LSU Women’s Center is a treasure to the Tiger Family.
Upon her arrival in fall, one of Provost & Executive Vice Chancellor Astrid Merget’s first orders of business was to sign an enhancement proposal for the LSU Women’s Center, which reflected the Center’s contribution over the last ten years. The enhancement proposal included two critical issues.
- Unit Leadership--Upgrade the title from “Manager “ to “Director” with a commensurate salary package
- Operating Budget--Increase the operating budget
These two important upgrades were approved on August 24, 2007. A revised job description for the LSU Women’s Center Director was approved. A search committee was established. The LSU Women’s Center Director Search Committee includes the following LSU professionals:
- Chaunda Allen, Director, Office of Multicultural Affairs, Search Committee Chair
- Dr. Todd Pourcieau, Assistant Vice Chancellor, Research & Economic Development
- Dr. Elaine Maccio, Assistant Professor, School of Social Work and Women’s & Gender Studies
- Dr. Shanta H. Proctor, Executive Director, Governor’s Office on Women’s Policy
- Kelly Stevens Weber, Assistant Director, Office of Orientation
- Sharbari Dey, Graduate Assistant for Women's Center and CSW**
- Daniel Guillot, President, GBLSU
Despite the fall semester being “off cycle” for the hiring process of highly skilled higher education professionals, the LSU Women’s Center Director position was advertised locally, regionally, and nationally. This yielded 20 candidates. The search committee assessed the pool of applicants. After a thorough critique of the candidates, their recommendation was to wait until spring semester--the actual hiring cycle for this type of position—and re-advertise the position.
Although there is currently an executive order hiring freeze in the State of Louisiana, the LSU Women’s Center Director’s search will continue to move forward this semester in hopes of hiring a top notch transformational leader to direct the LSU Women’s Center.
I am confident that the search committee will select a qualified professional who may advance our Women’s Center to national recognition, while advancing the relative goals of the Flagship Agenda and providing our LSU community with the vital resources and services related to gender equity.
Vice Provost Albert
Equity, Diversity & Community Outreach
*1997 changed to 1995, 02-18-08
**Sharbari Dey was inadvertently not listed
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September 6, 2007 - Recommendations made for Women’s Center and African American Cultural Center
Dear Friends,
In August, the Dialogue Teams of the African American Cultural Center and Women’s Center unanimously decided to move forward with exploring expansion opportunities as it relates to integrating both centers in the proposed parking garage on Raphael Semmes Road. Both groups were charged with: 1) Surveying the campus community on the needs and wants of each center and 2) Recommending other constituents for an expanded core group. This group would discuss the needs and wants of the community with the architectural firms responsible for conceptualizing the future of the centers.
The expanded core group of LSU Women’s Center and African American Cultural Center supporters met separately on September 6, 2007 with Emmett David, University Architect, Jerry M. Campbell and Associates architecture firm, and KDK Architects to present campus and community members’ design recommendations and concerns for the potential new expanded centers.
In each meeting, the architects actively listened to the students, faculty, staff, and alumni share their perspectives on space necessities and room specifications for the building designs. Both core groups underscored the importance of a design of the centers that would have a “stand-alone,” “home-like” plan preserving the integrity and identity of each center.
Recommendations offered by both groups included:
- Private restroom facilities
- ADA Compliant
- Front porch façade
- Appropriate lawn space for outside events
- Well lit
- Visible signage for both centers
- Kitchenette/Servery
- Conference Room
- Communal Space
- Library/Computer area
- Student Organizations work room
- Offices for professional staff, faculty, and graduate assistants
Specific recommendations for the Women’s Center included:
- Gender neutral restroom facilities equipped with changing station and adjacent special needs room
- LGBTQ activity space
- Play Room
Specific recommendations for the African American Cultural Center included:
- Gender specific restroom facilities
- Larger communal/social space
- Additional large multipurpose meeting room
The architects plan to offer specific designs for the groups’ consideration in two weeks. After which, town hall meetings will be scheduled to present the site drawings to the larger LSU community. Please click here for new stories at The Advocate and click here for new stories at The Daily Reveille.
In addition to LSU administration and the aforementioned architects, the participants for each meeting are listed below:
Women’s Center Meeting Participants:
Shanelle K. Matthews, student
Sheri Thompson, professional staff
Whitney Breaux, student
Morgan McCann, student
Mariah Stidham, student
Jessica Ketcham Weber, student
Ashley Dykes, student
Moshe Cohen, student
Julie Chance, The Daily Reveille
Jordan Blum, The Advocate
Chaunda Allen, professional staff
Marco Barker, professional staff
Dr. Rita Culross, faculty
Dr. Nina Asher, faculty
Dr. Dan Novak, faculty
African American Cultural Center Meeting Participants:
Cassie Alsfeld, student, SG President
Josh King, student SG Vice President
Monique F. Cain, professional staff
Derrick Petit, student
Westley Bayas III, alumnus
Ashley Lynn Sergeant, student
Elise Gilbert, student
Baxter Sanders, student
Julie Chance, The Daily Reveille
Jordan Blum, The Advocate
Linda Smith Griffin, professional staff
Marco Barker, professional staff
Chaunda Allen, professional staff
Brandon Smith, professional staff
Dr. Darrell Ray, professional staff
Dr. Jinx Broussard, faculty
Dr. Angeletta Gourdine, faculty
As always, you may visit DiverstiyNOTES at this website for updates.
DIVERSITYNOW.
Vice Provost Katrice Albert
Equity, Diversity & Community Outreach
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August 9, 2007—LSU Women’s Center & African American Cultural Center Dialogue Team meet with University Architects and express decision.
Dear Friends:
The Women’s Center (WC) and the African American Cultural Center (AACC) dialogue teams met to offer feedback and concerns from their respective constituents regarding options for growth and expansion. During this second meeting, the dialogue teams heard from University Architects regarding site planning for both centers and asked both the architects and university officials (i.e., Office of Parking, Traffic & Transportation and the Office of Finance and Administrative Services) questions that stemmed from campus and community concerns.
The dialogue team considered three options. 1. Remain in the current building (AACC & the Helen M. Carter House), 2. Relocate to a newly designed space created from a parking structure expansion, or 3. Relocate into space created by renovations in the LSU Student Union.
Emmett David, University Architect, provided preliminary schematics for each scenario that outlined the current physical structure and potential expansions. He also offered benefits, drawbacks, timelines, and site planning issues for each. The dialogue teams expressed concern for each option. Please see a list of the most pressing questions and answers that emerged.
- WC: Could the expanded space created by the parking structure have gender neutral bathroom? Yes
- AACC: If we considered the LSU Union Space, could we negotiate the food contract with Chartwells? Yes
- AACC: Would green space be available in front of the expanded space created by the parking structure? Yes
- WC: What are the security plans for parking structure? This facility will have an attendant and be well lit.
- WC: Will there be available parking for events held in the centers? ½ of all parking spaces (~375) will be visitor parking
- AACC: Will the parking garage be open for football games? Yes
- AACC: What is the cost estimate for each option? Unknown until specific plans are drawn
- AACC: Many events at the AACC use the green side and require street closure, will that be allowed by the expanded space by the parking structure? Yes
After this meeting, both dialogue teams 1) agreed to move forward with seeing specific plans of the expanded space provided by the parking structure; 2) agreed that the space in the LSU Student Union would no longer be considered; and 3) maintained the option to remain in both centers as they currently stand.
Early this fall semester, an expanded WC and AACC committee will meet individually with the University Architects and the outside architectural firm to offer recommendations and other expressed needs and wants for the potential expanded space.
Once specific plans are created, several campus-community wide town hall meetings will be scheduled to gain feedback for these initial blueprints/plans created.
Please see below for meeting attendees.
1. Marco J Barker (Equity, Diversity & Community Outreach or EDCO)
2. Jordan Blum (The Advocate)
3. Elise Gilbert (Student and AACC patron)
4. Morgan McCann (WGS Student and WC patron)
5. Travis Andrews (LSU Reveille)
6. Jerry M. Campbell (Campbell & Associates Architects)
7. Vice Provost Katrice Albert (EDCO and Academic Affairs)
8. Sheri Thompson (LSU Staff and WC patron)
9. Vice Provost Chuck Wilson (Academic Affairs)
10. Jason Soileau (LSU Facility Development)
11. Gary S. Graham (Parking, Traffic, & Transportation)
12. Eric N. Monday (Finance and Administration or FAS)
13. Vice Chancellor Jerry Baudin (FAS)
14. Roberta Madden (YWCA and WC community patron)
15. Lloyd Blanchard (Chancellor’s Office)
16. Kwame Asante (NAACP and AACC patron)
17. Westley Bayas III (AAAS Student and AACC patron)
18. Tim Fields (LSU Staff Senate President)
19. Jessica Ketcham Weber (WGS Student and WC patron)
20. Rita Culross (WGS Interim Director and WC patron)
21. Niya Blair (AA Student Affairs Coordinator)
22. Chaunda Allen (Director for the Office of Multicultural Affairs)
23. Emmett David (Facility Development)
24. Troy D. Allen (AAAS and History HBCU Visiting Professor and AACCs historian)
25. Jerry Hebert (GHA Architects)
26. Jody Gascon (GHA Architects)
27. Anthony Taffaro (KOK Architects)
28. R. Neal Norton (Campbell & Associates Architects)
As always, you may visit DiverstiyNOTES at this website for updates.
DIVERSITYNOW
Vice Provost Katrice Albert
Equity, Diversity & Community Outreach
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| 07-08-2007
July 18, 2007—LSU Women’s Center and African American Cultural Center Dialogue Teams Meet
Dear Friends:
I am happy to report that the Women’s Center (WC) and the African American Cultural Center (AACC) Dialogue Teams, comprised of affiliates, allies, and supporters, (i.e. LSU faculty, staff, students, and community partners) met to discuss the current physical plant of both centers and the potential opportunity for growth and expansion. Some key facts presented during this meeting included:
- The current size of each center. The AACC is approximately 1200 sq. ft. and the WC is approximately 1600 sq. ft.
- The current limitations of each center. 1) The AACC has only one meeting space and no other isolated office space; 2) For minimal expansion, both centers would require significant private donations; and 3) Both Centers are on the LSU deferred maintenance list.
- Traffic flow and operations of each center.
- False reports of demolition and discontinuation of each center. Neither center is being demolished nor discontinued. This team will continue to work towards a plan that will be in the best interest of both centers.
This fruitful discussion highlighted the following:
- A recognized truth of the vital contributions that both centers offer to the campus and greater community
- A unanimous decision to facilitate the expansion and growth of the WC and AACC while maintaining the individuality, integrity, and identity that each center brings to LSU
- An excitement to work closely with University administration to brainstorm ideas for enhancing space allocation
- A willingness to interface with campus and community constituents to gain feedback and provide vital progress reports
The dialogue teams are listed below:
The Women’s Center Dialogue Team
Dr. Rita Culross—Professor; Women & Gender Studies Director
Tim Fields—University College; Staff Senate President
Rachel Herbert—LSU Graduate; Current Women’s Center Volunteer (unable to attend)
Roberta Madden—YWCA Director of Women’s Health & Public Policy; Women’s Center Advocate
Morgan Moreau—Women & Gender Studies Major; Women Organizing Women President
Ashley Ransburg—LSU Graduate; EBR Public School Teacher; Women’s Center & AACC Advocate (unable to attend)
Sheri Thompson—Computing Services; former WC Director responsible for the WC move from Hatcher to current location
Jessica Ketchum Weber—Doctoral Student; Women & Gender Studies Student Organization President
The African American Dialogue Team
Dr. Troy Allen—African & African American Studies Faculty Member; African American Cultural Centers Historian
Kwame Asante—State Director of the Louisiana NAACP (unable to attend)
Westley Bayas, III— General Studies Major; African American Cultural Center Student Leader
Kirt Bennett—2nd African American LSU SG President; African American Cultural Center Advocate
Donald Cravins, Jr.—State Senator; African American Cultural Center Advocate (unable to attend)
Elise Gilbert—Kinesiology Major; 2007 Black History Month Chair
Linda Smith Griffin—Librarian; Black Faculty Association & BFSC Representative (unable to attend)
These teams have committed to not only working closely with University administration, but also interfacing with campus and community constituencies who have passion about the future of the WC & AACC. I understand everyone has deep concerns. Please be assured that these stakeholders who comprise the dialogue teams are vocalizing your concerns and open communication is taking place between LSU administration and campus and community constituents for both centers. It is our intention that these stakeholders will provide the greater community with accurate reports of the university’s progress.
As always, you may visit DiversityNOTES for updates.
DIVERSITYNOW
Vice Provost Katrice Albert
Equity, Diversity & Community Outreach
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July 12, 2007 - LSU Cultural Centers and the Master Plan
Dear Friends:
There have been questions and concerns regarding the future location and physical plant of the LSU African American Cultural Center and Women’s Center. At this time, there are discussions taking place among the Office of Equity, Diversity & Community Outreach (EDCO), LSU Finance & Administration, and affiliates, allies, and supporters (i.e., LSU faculty, staff, and students and community partners) of both centers. These discussions focus on the possible expansion and technological advancement of these centers and how each center can be incorporated more fully in the LSU Master Plan, while maintaining their historic mission and scope. EDCO understands the critical role of cultural centers as “safe spaces” and “home places” and their relevance on university campuses. Our office is committed to both centers and ensures that the end result will be in the best interest of our affinity groups.
To view the current LSU Master Plan, please visit http://masterplan.lsu.edu.
Please be reminded that these discussions are preliminary and as we have more developments regarding both centers, we will communicate such developments with the campus community. You may visit this webpage for updates.
We thank you for your concern and patience.
DIVERSITYNOW
Vice Provost Katrice Albert
Equity, Diversity & Community Outreach
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