Board examines diversity

The Student Government Board discussed ways to improve diversity on Pitt’s campus last night… The Student Government Board discussed ways to improve diversity on Pitt’s campus last night in a town hall meeting in the William Pitt Union.

“Diversity is not at the premiere here,” President Shady Henien said. “The administration pushes it and gives students opportunities, but the diversity can be improved.”

The board discussed issues ranging from Darfur to diversity training for student leaders at Pitt. They also talked about the possibility of creating a same-race or cultural dorm to make students feel more comfortable in their environment.

Another issue brought up concerned the lack of minority professors at Pitt.

“Some students feel uncomfortable,” board member Sumter Link said. “The faculty is all white males in a handful of departments here.”

Some concerns were also voiced about the lack of Latin-American diversity on campus. Some board members proposed a minority student resource center on campus.

Board members also discussed a student leadership forum taking place tonight on the sixth floor of the William Pitt Union. The forum is only for groups affiliated with Student Life right now, but SGB hopes to expand that scope.

“We want organizations coming together at Pitt,” Link said. “We want to put everyone in the same room where more issues and concepts can be addressed.”

The board also approved allocation requests, one for club gymnastics for $384 and one for women’s rugby for $825.

This was the board’s last meeting before spring break, but some of them won’t be going on vacation anytime soon.

Approximately half of the board is taking a trip to Washington, D.C., from March 3 until March 6 to lobby Congress on issues concerning funding for higher learning.