“I think that institutional

racism is present and is one Chancellor’s Commission on the AT UNL

of the many struggles that
students have to deal with.” -
Status of People of Color WE BELIEVE
Chandra Diaz, UNL Student
Commission e-mail: color@unlnotes.unl.edu
Office of the Chancellor 402-472-2116
IN THE
VALUE
OF
DIVERSITY
“People, regardless of
their background, race or
gender, should be provid-
ed with an environment
for everybody to contrib-
ute to UNL and to the
society as a whole.”- Ying
Cao, Director Graduate
Admissions

“You have to know who

you are, what you’re here
for, who your real friends
are, and where you can
go for help. Otherwise,
you’ll drift and get lost in
the crowd.” - Cecil How-
ell, UNL Student

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln

is an equal opportunity educator and Chancellor’s Commission on the Status
employer with a comprehensive plan
for diversity of People of Color
Imagine moving to a small town
where you know no one. You’re try-
ing to get established, to do your job
and get comfortable in the communi-
ty. Occasionally you need the help of
the townspeople. Some seem helpful,
many are indifferent, and others are
actually hostile. None of them looks
like you, and among them you stick
out like a sore thumb. Your progress
is slow, and it’s not long before you
want to just go back home, to be
among friends again.
But you know you can’t go back. This
place has what you need to advance
yourself. You have to stick it out. So
what do you do? Find friends among
the few, blend into the scenery as
much as you can, or do you make a
stand?
For students, faculty and staff of
color, the feelings of isolation can be
overwhelming, and can get in the way
of teaching and learning. And when
the prejudices of others make being
a part of the university community
more difficult, people of color need
recourse. They need a vehicle to com-
municate the problems to those who
can improve the climate on campus
for everyone. They need a voice that
will speak clearly about the value of
cultural diversity.
OUR PURPOSE AND ROLE
The Chancellor’s Commission on the
Status of People of Color works with the
office of the Chancellor, the Director of
Affirmative Action and other UNL ad-
ministrators to advise, counsel and rec-
ommend actions to improve conditions
for people of color at UNL. The Com-
mission is the eyes and ears of the Chan-
cellor’s office, and a much-needed voice
for people of color at UNL
HISTORY OF THE COMMISSION
The Chancellor’s Commission on the
Status of People of Color was established
in 1987. Two years later, the Commission
released its first assessment of condi-
tions facing people of color and devised a
series of recommendations for improve-
ments.
The Commission called for a coordinated
plan of action to increase the level of
cultural diversity on campus. The report
generated three overall goals to substan-
tially increase the numbers of faculty,
staff and students of color; and 63 spe-
cific recommendations for action to ac-
complish the goals. The Commission has
continued in its fact-finding rolse since
- providing information gathered first-
hand from faculty, staff and students, and
communicating to the Chancellor the
thoughts, needs, contributions and chal-
lenges of people of color.
WHAT THE COMMISSION
CAN DO FOR YOU?
The Chancellor’s Commission on the
Status of People of Color is your voice. It
is a place where your thoughts on im-
proving conditions for all people of color
can get a hearing. The Commission is not
an administrative office, but its access to
the University administration can benefit
all who communicate with it.
WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR THE
COMMISSION
Talk with us. Alert the Commission to
problems people of color are experienc-
ing. Ask fellow students, faculty and staff
of color about what could be done to
improve diversity and reduce incidents of
discrimination on campus. Tell them that
there is a way their concerns can be heard
at the top levels of campuse administra-
tion - a way that is easy for them to use.