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The Daily OrangeDisabilities not considered to be part of diversity hiring at SU
By Amanda Waddell
Posted: 9/23/03, 12:50 AM EST Section: News
SU's lack of attention to disability is raising concern among some members of the campus community, especially as many academic departments begin their searches for new faculty for the 2004-2005 school year.
"Diversity in terms of just color is not my definition of what diversity is," said Liat Ben-Moshe, president of the Beyond Compliance Coordinating Committee, a student organization that is working to promote the hiring of faculty with disabilities.
The organization, which began two years ago and consists of six members, is concerned with broadening SU's conception of diversity to include disability.
"What we have is a standpoint," Ben-Moshe said. "First, we are saying that diversity is important, and second, we are saying that disability is diversity."
For the past year, the committee has been in contact with Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs Deborah Freund about ways to increase disability awareness.
"We are currently attempting to put together a proposal [to promote the hiring of people with disabilities], but in a very behind-the-scenes kind of way," Ben-Moshe said. "We are starting at the disability studies departmental level - we think it will be more prudent for now."
To increase the number of minority applicants, SU does a considerable amount of community outreach to gain access to underrepresented populations and to inform them about employment opportunities, Salanger said. She also noted that SU is a federal contractor and thereby required to provide and track its employment activity through affirmative action measures.
The school is warming up to the issue of hiring faculty members with disabilities, Simon said.
"The university is becoming much more sensitized to disability issues," Simon said. "And once that occurs, disability may finally be seen as an aspect of diversity."
Kim Jaffee, a professor in the College of Human Services and Health Professions, is currently heading a search committee that is seeking to fill two positions within the School of Social Work. Her committee, like many others, strives to promote diversity mainly in terms of race and gender, Jaffee said.
"Diversity in terms of just color is not my definition of what diversity is," said Liat Ben-Moshe, president of the Beyond Compliance Coordinating Committee, a student organization that is working to promote the hiring of faculty with disabilities.
The organization, which began two years ago and consists of six members, is concerned with broadening SU's conception of diversity to include disability.
"What we have is a standpoint," Ben-Moshe said. "First, we are saying that diversity is important, and second, we are saying that disability is diversity."
For the past year, the committee has been in contact with Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs Deborah Freund about ways to increase disability awareness.
"We are currently attempting to put together a proposal [to promote the hiring of people with disabilities], but in a very behind-the-scenes kind of way," Ben-Moshe said. "We are starting at the disability studies departmental level - we think it will be more prudent for now."
To increase the number of minority applicants, SU does a considerable amount of community outreach to gain access to underrepresented populations and to inform them about employment opportunities, Salanger said. She also noted that SU is a federal contractor and thereby required to provide and track its employment activity through affirmative action measures.
The school is warming up to the issue of hiring faculty members with disabilities, Simon said.
"The university is becoming much more sensitized to disability issues," Simon said. "And once that occurs, disability may finally be seen as an aspect of diversity."
Kim Jaffee, a professor in the College of Human Services and Health Professions, is currently heading a search committee that is seeking to fill two positions within the School of Social Work. Her committee, like many others, strives to promote diversity mainly in terms of race and gender, Jaffee said.
