By SHANNON O. WELLS
In an effort to bring more accessibility and transparency to the efforts of the University Senate, the Equity, Inclusion and Anti-Discrimination Advocacy committee (EIADAC) is considering establishing “office hours,” something of a regularly scheduled open house in which Pitt community members can discuss and learn more about topics and policies being discussed at the committee level.
This was among the range of topics discussed at the Dec. 13 EIADAC meeting, which also covered a rundown on the recent affinity groups resolution, the committee’s role in promoting goals from the Higher Education Sexual Misconduct and Awareness Survey and related Survivor Support Network training, as well as programs starting in the spring semester.
EIADAC co-chairs Bridget Keown and Susan Graff came up with the office hours concept while discussing the affinity groups resolution passed by Senate Council on Nov. 5.
Noting that the affinity groups resolution was put forward by the Bylaws and Procedures committee, Keown said, “what it is hopefully doing (is creating) additional opportunities for communication between various segments of the community with shared interests in both Faculty Assembly and separately standing committees.”
A discussion that came up around the resolution was the availability and accessibility of the University Senate to community members. “To be blunt, how many people know about Faculty Assembly, whether they can join, whether they can come to meetings, things like that,” Keown said.
To help clarify such questions, she and Graff are proposing EIADAC office hours, which “more or less would be a set time where we would be available to talk to members of the community (about), any issues that are going on, to make sure that the work we are doing is reflective of the needs of the campus community,” Keown explained.
Calling it a “great idea,” Clyde Pickett, vice chancellor of equity, diversity and inclusion, suggested that “any opportunities we could provide to promote engagement with faculty would go a long way in the work that we've done around campus.”
A common topic that comes up centers on “How do we create greater opportunities for communication across faculty lines?” he said. “I think, just by providing some office hours and opportunity for support, that will go a long way. Whatever we could do from our end, from an administrative standpoint, to support that, by all means. I think that it's excellent.”
Keown said the office hours discussion will continue, and she and Graff will send emails with proposed schedules and other information. “We can be talking more about this, but we’re looking forward to possibly implementing this in the spring, if that is an idea that people are comfortable with.”
Sexual misconduct survey
In other topics, Keown said the Higher Education Sexual Misconduct and Awareness Survey, which was briefly discussed at the Dec. 5 Board of Trustees meeting, is now available online.
“We would encourage people to take a look at this and be thinking about … the role that EIADAC can play in supporting Pitt’s goals in regards to the survey,” she said. “And also being mindful of the ways that we can support community initiatives around reducing the rate of people experiencing non-consensual sexual contact (and) improving the rates of trust on campus regarding authority figures and things like that.”
Pickett said the survey represents an “opportunity for us to get better information,” in terms of the realities of sexual violence and misconduct on campuses, but “also opportunities to continue to advance our efforts in the prevention space.
“One of the things we presented as part of these conversations is the reality that one instance is too many, and that we have to have ongoing effort with regard to prevention, but more importantly, appropriate response,” he added.
Other issues
Survivor Support Network: Graff asked if others had received an email about Survivor Support Network Training, noting that as members of EIADAC, it's “our responsibility to kind of promote these things and lead by example.”
“I believe it's just three sessions that could be done either in person or virtually,” she said. “Assuming that I am not having any other obligation … I plan to do it. So if anyone wants to do it with me, please let me know.”
CuPID project: Graff said she’s looking for people to be interviewed and share their “lived experiences” about promoting community, belonging and connectedness related to her Community Partnership Identity Dialogue (CuPID) seed grant project.
“The original idea of the program was to go into specific schools and understand the lived experiences within those schools,” she said, noting she didn't anticipate such challenges initially. “As the climate has changed, people are feeling less safe to engage in these kinds of things.”
Graff said she’d like to collect as many stories as possible to “better understand through individual, kind of personal narratives, what are the experiences of folks on campus.” Those who would like more information can send an email to cupid@pitt.edu or visit the project website.
“I just think it would be a real loss to not capitalize on this incredible opportunity that the provost has given to me and my team,” Graff noted.
Keown praised Graff’s efforts with CuPID. “I think I do not speak only for myself when I say you deserve a hell of a lot of credit for the work, but also for winning the grant as well,” she said. “So, congratulations and thank you.”
Creating a Culture of Access: Ellen Smith, teaching professor in Department of English, shared that the Dietrich School of Arts & Sciences’ Writing Institute has posted a schedule for its “Creating a Culture of Access” series. The first topic, “Ditching ‘Resilience’ for Cultures of Care,” led by Ada Hubrig and Sarah Madoka Currie, will be discussed via Zoom at 2 p.m. Jan. 19, 2025.
Curated by Jessie Male, disability studies consultant in the Dietrich School, the series is open to faculty members, who, upon completion, will receive a letter to use on their CVs and yearly reports.
“A lot of great speakers are being brought in for this,” Smith said. “So I hope you keep it on your radar.”
Shannon O. Wells is a writer for the University Times. Reach him at shannonw@pitt.edu.
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