I would like to commend this year’s Oregon Daily Emerald editors and writing staff for their attention to diversity, campus climate and social equity issues at the University. As a founding member of CODAC, the Center on Diversity and Community, I am especially heartened by your efforts to elevate the level of campuswide information and discussion on these important issues.
To that shared end, let me follow up on Brad Schmidt’s recent story on student diversity recruitment efforts, “Given a sporting chance” (ODE, Feb. 2), with a couple of clarifications about what CODAC is. Because we are so new on campus, many of your readers may not know what CODAC does.
CODAC was administratively created in October 2001 (not May, as was reported), after more than a year of research and planning by faculty, students, staff and community members. It is not CODAC’s role “to evaluate the University on its diversity and on issues that threaten diversity.” CODAC’s mission — as an interdisciplinary research center — is to promote inquiry, dialogue and understanding on issues of racial, ethnic and cultural diversity.
CODAC accomplishes this mission through advancing diversity scholarship, innovative programs and events, information exchange and partnerships with individuals and communities throughout higher education, the region and our society.
CODAC offers many opportunities and resources that are meant to assist student and faculty recruitment concerns, as well as to enhance the University’s campus climate for diversity. These include events such as the December panel and forum “Voices of the Ducks: Campus Climate, Community and Broadcast Media,” our DUCKS facilitator training course and student dialogue groups, our sponsored Campus Climate Research Interest Team, postdoctoral fellowships, graduate research stipends and undergraduate community internships. However, CODAC’s role is that of a diversity research center, not of an administrative watchdog.
For more information about CODAC or for a listing of upcoming events, I encourage readers to contact the center or visit the CODAC Web site at
http://www.uoregon.edu/~codac.