1. Welcome and Introductions of attendees (preferred pronouns)

Liane Wong, Co-Chair, Jai Smith, Co-Chair

  1. Campus Pride Index follow up

Syndric Steptoe, Associate Director, Athletics

Lacey John, Assistant Director, C.A.T.S. Life Skills

  • Reported that we received a 4.5/5 score from Campus Pride overall.
  • Following up from that we have connected with Athletics to clarify some of the responses on the Pride Index.
  • Lacey and Syndric have offered to answer to the best of their abilities while they are in the process of hiring a new director.
  • My-king Johnson was brought up as an example of Athletics commitment to LGBTQ players.
  • Athletics focuses on team building dynamics and life skills building, developing solutions before there are problems.
  • One of the programs they offer is House Party 101 which is a bystander intervention curriculum.
  • Most players attend this program, though it is not mandated or required for all players to attend. Coaches often require that players attend, but it is left up to the discretion of the coach.
  • Bystander training addresses drinking, sexual violence, substance abuse, and discrimination of a team mate who is gay or lesbian on their team.
  • Step-up Bystander Intervention was developed in 2009 and originated at the UA and now is a national program.
  • Development of an Inclusivity Flag by former swimmer, JD Schneider.
  • The flag hangs in the McKale Center, and has since 2014. It has an inclusive statement on it that all athletes sign. This statement includes gender identity, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, etc.
  • Lacey and Syndric will take a photo of it and send it to us.
  • Several athletes from the UA were involved with the Fearless Project which is the photo biography that Jeff Shang offers to out athletes of all ages.
  • The Athletics department offers opportunities to students to get engaged and explore identity, but nothing is mandatory or required, and the department is supportive of their path.
  • SafeZone training for staff, faculty, coaches, and students is offered but not required or mandatory, they do not have a percentage of folks who have gone through the training.
  • Support services for LGBTQ folks include a separate Title IX coordinator and a separate sports psychologist, who works with teams on positive culture development. Further support services are referred out to.
  • Currently there isn’t any sort of training or professional development that all coaches are required to get from the Athletics department. This could be an opportunity for development of cultural humility trainings.
  • Jesus Trevino’s initiative on Inclusive Excellence was brought up with Athletics. Neither of the representatives had heard of the initiative. The Diversity Taskforce was also brought up briefly to offer suggestions and guidance on diversifying a department. They may have additional guidance for the Athletics department.
  • If a player experiences harassment from a coach based on their gender identity or sexual orientation (or other protected identity) then they can work directly with the Title IX coordinator, Erica Barnes.
  • Concerns that the department have about having openly LGB players (specifically with the national attention that My-king Johnson has received) is not harassment from other players, but harassment from media and community members outside of Athletics.
  • The Wildcat Way discusses the Pillar of Respect for players and addresses intersectional identity.
  • Locker Room culture is addressed immediately and coaches take it seriously because of the way that it can reflect on them.
  • Currently no openly transgender identified players, but they would defer to NCAA guidelines for trans players.
  • Lacey and Syndric asked for guidance/suggestions on how to support My-king and other athletes who have a lot of national attention and may continue to be pigeon-holed as just the first gay ___. How can the department support the player while they are being labeled?
  • Suggestions included:
  • Take the lead of the student, and honor that lead.
  • Don’t make their identity the focus of departmental support.
  • Provide mentorship and connect those students up with other out athletes.
  • Don’t tokenize or use the student as a way to show how inclusive the department is.
  • Recognize the capacity of the department, and refer out for support and additional services that go beyond the department.
  • Keep talking about identity and support in Athletics and provide an open door.
  1. Follow-up on website design

Liane Wong, Jai Smith

  • A layout has been put together, but was not present at the meeting.
  • This layout included: Description of the Council, Accomplishments, Links, Archive (where minutes and agendas will go), Listserv Connection, and Initiatives for the Year.
  • The layout will be sent out and feedback can be emailed back.
  • Jen will look at what potential accomplishments from previous years could be added.
  1. Suggestions for creating mission statement
    Liane Wong, Jai Smith
  • Quick brainstorm on what we would want to accomplish and how we could develop a mission statement from that.
  • Common Themes: Bridge and continuity between the community and what is going on off-campus, and on-campus initiatives, statement should be intersectional in approach and active, make suggestions for inclusive practices and ways to improve on campus and in departments, keep pressure on UA to support LGBTQ students, staff, and faculty, and provide the ability to thrive and grow.
  • Jen will send the mission statement from Office of LGBTQ Affairs, and Jai will look at other council’s mission statements to draft a statement.
  1. 2017 meeting schedule

Liane Wong, Jai Smith

  • These are now set monthly, the first Monday of the month 3:30pm-5:00pm
  • Next three: April 3rd, May 1st, and June 5th.
  1. UA Update

Tannya Gaxiola, AVP Community Relations

  • Diversity Task Force
  • Tannya was not present at the meeting and was not able to give an update.
  • President Search
  • President will be announced on Monday, a forum will be on Wednesday 03/08/2017 at 4pm and live streamed for the new President.
  • Update: The new President of the UA is Dr. Robert Robbins.
  • Community Council Mixer Recap
  • Council mixer should be done twice a year.
  • Was under-attended but informative.
  • Hispanic Community Council focusing on scholarships.
  • African American Community Council focusing on scholarships and a yearly mixer.
  • Asian Pacific American Community Council focusing on scholarships.
  • This is an opportunity for us to talk to other councils about how we can advocate for their council initiatives and how they can advocate for our initiatives, especially for students, faculty, and staff that experience intersectional identities.
  1. Next steps and next meeting
  • Next Meeting April 3rd, 2017 at 3:30pm.
  1. Announcements
  • Southern Arizona Gender Alliance has connected with Brian Seastone because of the previous meeting and is going to train UAPD on working with trans folks by the end of the semester.
  • Naloxone/Narcan trainings are now taking place through Sonoran Prevention Works to provide those who are using opioids and their friends/family the means to prevent an overdose. Jai will be connecting Aimee Graves, Jen Hoefle-Olsen, Sheila McGinnis, Lee Ann Hamilton, and Brian Seastone with the training opportunity.