DAC Meeting Minutes 1-25-10

I. Call to Order: 7:00

II. Attendance:

a. Association for Women Students

b. Association of Jewish Students

c. Interfraternal Council

d. Lights on Campus

e. Love You Like a Sister (LYLAS)

f. NAACP Miami University

g. Pan-hellenic Council

h. Sign Language and Deaf Awareness Club

i. Southeast Asian Student Organization

j. Wilks Leadership Institute

k. SAC

III. Special Business A

a. Dean Mosley Howard—The Miami University Climate Survey

b. Those present were given two Diversity Awareness Surveys. One was
to fill out at the meeting and one was to give to a friend to fill out. DAC
members were asked to comment on the survey and make corrections.
The survey will be given to a larger population in the future.

IV. Announcements and Remarks by the Chair Una Hrnjak

a. The next DAC meeting (February 22nd) is very significant. President

David Hodge and Interim VP of Institutional Diversity Dr. Ron Scott will
be with us. Please spread the word about this meeting, we will be
covering a lot of important information.

i. All organizations may bring an extra representative to this next

meeting.

ii. Please bring your advisor to the next DAC meeting.

iii. The meetings will all be in Harrison 204 this semester.

 b. Interested in becoming the next secretary for Diversity Affairs? Email
Una Hrnjak (hrnjaku@muohio.edu) to start shadowing during meetings
that she attends. If you have any questions about what the position
entails.

V. The Oxford Police Department will be working with DAC, so we thank them for
attending the meeting.

VI. Special Business B

a. Bobbe Burke—Director of Off-Campus Affairs, Gave a presentation on

Miami Universities relationship with the Miami Tribe.

b. Please see Appendix B—Bobbe Burke’s Powerpoint

i. Myaamia Project--The creation of the Myaamia Project for

Language Revitalization in 2001 has profoundly deepened the
impact of this relationship. Miami Tribal member, Daryl Baldwin,
directs the Project’s efforts to preserve, promote, and research
Miami Nation language, history, and culture. Check
out www.myaamiaproject.org for details.

ii. There are 3 Miami staff members of the Miami Tribe that head
the Myaamia project. The key is the relationship that exists
between Miami University and the Miami Nation.

iii. She talked about the controversy associated with Miami

University’s former Native Mascot

1. What is wrong with the concept of Native American

Mascots

a. Dehumanizing of a contemporary group of people

b. Inversions of the past—The Miami Tribe would not

consider themselves warriors

c. The mascot image is usually represented by a

Plains Indian rather than American Indians from
distinct locations and tribes.

2. At Miami—There have been intentional and unintentional

uses of the Miami Tribe Imagery.

a. In 1888, there was a peace pipe in the Masthead of

the Miami Student, for example.
 b. March 1930—Begins the use of the intentional
Native Mascot. It appears in the Miami Student.
Until the end of 1930, the term “The Big Red” was
used for Miami athletics. In 1931, the term
“Redskins” began to be used.

c. There is much more information in the power point,

but it was not until 1996 when the University
decided to no longer permit the use of the word
“Redskins” with Miami University out of respect for
the Miami Tribe.

VII.Special Business C

a. Matt Ciccone—Secretary for Off-Campus Affairs—If you have any

concerns about off-campus happenings, please email:
cicconmr@muohio.edu.

b. Student Concerns:

i. University Housing Contracts are binding. So far it has been very

difficult to get Miami Housing to Budge on how binding the
housing contracts are.

c. We are looking into getting biking and walking paths to Wal-mart and
Kroger. It is a difficult process to get these kinds of projects done, but if
you see the need, you should tell the administration and let them know
that students agree that there is a need.

VIII. Special Business D

a. Matt Hoffman—Secretary for Academic Affairs

b. The G-Plan is a set of Global Perspectives classes that will soon be

offered in the Miami Plan.

c. Faculty are interested in pairing with organizations to engage the

student body in the classroom. If your organization is interested in
helping with a G-Plan course, please email Matt
(hoffmamd@muohio.edu) for more information.

IX. Reports

a. Programming—

i. Check our pictures of the DAC Global Holiday Party at

www.muasg.com/diversityaffairs
 ii. The programming committee is looking for a few more
members. If you are interested email Lidija Gnjatic
(gnjatil@muohio.edu).

b. The schedule for Diversity Week is coming together. If you would like
to have an event in Diversity Week, please let us know. You can use
some of the Diversity week Money and PR. Email Una if you are
interested in getting on the schedule..

Adjourn: 8:20PM