Final preparations for the March 3–5 “Diversity As Value Added” Symposium were made at the Feb. 25 President’s Commission for the Status of Minorities (PCSM) meeting.

The events and planning committee reviewed the schedule and asked for volunteers to act as recorders during the symposium’s discussion sessions. Spelman College President Beverly Tatum will deliver the keynote address at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, March 4, in WHSCAB Auditorium. Chair Jody Usher invited everyone attending the address to the luncheon in the WHSCAB plaza prior to Tatum’s speech.

Copies of Tatum’s book, Why Are All The Black Kids Sitting Together In The Cafeteria?, were ordered for PCSM members to review prior to the keynote.

In other news, members from the staff concerns committee will meet with Human Resources representatives to discuss a proposed staff survey that would measure the campus diversity climate. The survey is designed to be an ongoing project, and committee members hope to begin its administration by the end of March.

Torrance Stephens of faculty concerns said he still is having difficulties obtaining data for his survey on minority faculty and tenure study, a project similar to a recent study conducted by the President’s Commission on the Status of Women (PCSW). PCSM Chair Nagueyalti Warren suggested Stephens have fellow committee members each work on obtaining data from specific academic areas.

Tariq Shakoor and Warren reported that PCSM had given its support to the PCSW and LGBT by co-signing a letter opposing Emory’s pre-employment drug testing policy, and that letter was presented to President Bill Chace at the University Senate meeting (see story, page 5).

PCSM will meet again on March 24 in 400 Administration at 3 p.m.

If you have a question or concern for PCSM, e-mail Nagueyalti Warren at nwarren@emory.edu.