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Hi Lennard and all, I assume you're referring to Hunter College when you refer to Simi-I've been on faculty at Hunter for a galizzlion years and have seen change but they've been teeny tiny changes-I don't know if it's a lack of education on behalf of the non-disabled faculty, administration, and students-it seems to be a lack of political awareness and willing to go to the mat on behalf of the disabled faculty and disabled students-we should look at other minorities who placed themselves in the administrations "faces" if we don't put ourselves on the line, get serious, and engage in similar activities rather than exclusively engaging in philosophical dabate-we'll feel good but get nowhere fast -I'm unaware of any movement that was successful through education exclusively-if you know fo such an organhization, please inform. In Unity, Phyllis On Thu, 16 Sep 1999, Lennard Davis wrote: > I think that Jerry raises an important issue. I know that Simi Linton and > others, including myself, have attempted to have disability included in > diversity requirements. Often there is a backlash from more "established" > identity groups who see their status as jeopardized by encroaching new > identities. But I think that the argument needs to be made and objections > to counter arguments needs to be handled. In other words, as Gerry Graff > has written, we need to teach the problems. > > I do think we should get together a dog and pony show that could travel to > various universities. There are certainly enough people on this list who > have written about this subject and who are good speakers who could > constitute the basis for a speakers list. This goes back to the point that > I hope was and will be discussed at SDS concerning a Publicity/Advocacy > Bureau on Disability. > > At 03:51 PM 9/16/1999 EDT, you wrote: > >Hi Jerry and everyone! > > > >I have been advocating for inclusion of people with disabilities in the > >diversity dialogue at my college campus for years. Just this semester, I > >have made some progress. I located an ally on campus who understands > >disability as a minority status. He is a well-connected faculty/staff > person > >who is highly visible in the diversity and multicultural movement on > campus. > >He and I began meeting regularly and are planning strategies for inclusion > of > >pwd's. I believe that the diversity community on our campus does not > >intentionally exclude pwd's from the list of minority master statuses, but > >mainly needs education. > > > >So, find an ally or educate a potential ally who is already in the diversity > >loop and be an ally, too. > > > >Best regards, > > > >Beth Omansky Gordon > > > Best, > > Lennard J. Davis > Professor and Graduate Director > Department of English > Binghamton University > Binghamton, NY 13902 > 607-777-2770 Fax: 607-777-2408 > > > %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%