In a special committee meeting of the Board of Visitors yesterday, convened to address issues of Board structure and governance, committee members recommended the establishment of a special committee on diversity.
The committee will present its recommendation to the Board at a full meeting in April.
According to committee chair Thomas F. Farrell, II, the special committee would, if approved, discuss ongoing diversity-related activities with administrators, students and faculty, and recommend any additional committee action or investigation to the Board at a summer meeting.
In discussing the proposed committee, members made several references to the alleged racially motivated attack on Student Council President-elect Daisy Lundy.
"I think we are all very mindful of recent events," Board member Gordon Rainey, Jr said. "I think it's a good idea for our Board to consider the appointment of a special Board committee for diversity."
Despite members' outrage over the assault on Lundy, discussion concerning the formation of a committee on diversity began prior to the incident at a committee meeting on Feb. 24, Farrell said.
"Consensus was reached before" the attack, he said. "The Daisy Lundy incident did not change our view that a committee is necessary."
In yesterday's special committee meeting, Board member Warren M. Thompson advised his peers to take a strong stance against discrimination.
"We all have to face the fact that we, as a University, are being challenged in ways that we have not been challenged before," Thompson said. "Unless we take aggressive steps, it will damage the reputation of our University and the power of our brand."
Thompson also emphasized the need for action.
"We as a Board need to step up and send a strong message that we're going to do something to address" diversity, he said.
The recommendation for the formation of a special committee on diversity follows a resolution issued by the Board on Jan. 30 in response to the blackface incidents at a Halloween party this past fall.
The resolution, proposed by Thompson, commends students' "outstanding accomplishments" and further states that "the Board does not condone the unfortunate actions of a few students who have neglected the feeling of others with their thoughtless actions."
Board member Thomas A. Saunders said he gave his support for a committee on diversity, yet questioned the need for it to be a permanent standing committee.
He advised the Board to form a special committee, which could be disbanded when the Board no longer found it necessary.
In addition to agreeing on the need for a special committee on diversity, the Board's special committee on governance discussed recommendations to add compliance responsibilities to the Audit committee, a separation of the Student Affairs and Athletics committee and changes to the position of the University Architect.
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