Ohio University students, faculty members and a staff member were recognized for their efforts to foster diversity on campus Monday night. The first annual Brown v. Board of Education awards ceremony was the culmination of the day-long commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Supreme Court ruling that desegregated schools.
Each recipient demonstrated a strong commitment to promoting diversity on campus through student interaction, said Bill Smith, executive assistant to the president and head of the awards subcommittee of the Brown v. Board of Education Steering Committee.
William Allen, associate dean of University College, won in the staff category.
Dr. Allen has a long record in relation to the development of programs in University College to try and increase retention of at-risk students at OU
Smith said. He added that Allen's efforts to increase diversity began in 1980 and have significantly improved retention rates.
Allen said that the award was gratifying and demonstrated the university's continuing commitment to diversity. However, he said he was disappointed with the award's connection to the Supreme Court decision, because it has not been widely implicated.
This decision is to remind people in part that there is still work left to be done Allen said.
Two faculty members, African-American studies professor Francine Childs and journalism professor Sandra Haggerty, received awards for showing a strong commitment to diversity within the classroom.
Both were chosen because again
the length of time (they have committed to diversity)
Smith said. Dr. Childs has over 30 years and professor Haggerty since 1979; there was a long record of being involved with students. He added that both professors have affected students inside and outside the classroom.
The diversity award for students was given to members of the Diversity Task Force, who helped to organize the Diversity Conference that was held in February. Student trustee Dustin Wood, a junior, accepted the award on behalf of all the students involved.
We were struck by the fact that they created something new as a vehicle to help bridge diversity issues students are confronted with
Smith said.
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