April 27, 1996 Minutes

UC Davis

MEMBERS PRESENT:
John Dixon - Staff, UCD
Allison Subasic - Staff, UCD
Roland Sintos Coloma - Staff, UCR
Dan McGrath - Student, UCR
John White - Staff, UCSD
Christine Browning - Staff, UCI
Pat Walsh - Staff, UCI
Shih Chang - Student, UCB
Al Aubin - Staff, UCLA
Sigrid Hvolboll - Staff, UCSC
Jonathan Winters - Staff, UCB,
Sarah Archibald - Staff, UCSD,
Robert Gentry - Staff, UCI
Rich Beatty - Staff, UCSF
Thomas Cross - Student, UCB

1. The meeting commenced at 9:55am and was presided over by the UCLGBTA Co-Chairs Jonathan Winters and Sarah Archibald.

2. The first point of business was the approval of the minutes from the last meeting of the UCLGBTA STEERING COMMITTEE (February 16, 1996 at UC Berkeley). The approval of the minutes was moved and approved by voice vote. Summaries of activities at various campuses were distributed and an e-mail greeting from UCLGBTA chapter at the Los Alamos (NM) Lab was read to the group.

3. Shih Chang provided an update on the UCLGBTA website and archive. Control of the UCLGBTA web page has now been returned to the organization and may be accessed at http://server.berkeley.edu/queer/. A QRC intern is currently working on organizing and updating the archives. There was a general discussion about a permanent home for the archives, locations of copies, etc. Shih Chang volunteered to discuss the issue with Charles at UCLA. It was also decided to transfer the archives and web page site to a permanent location, as the current location is temporary. Al Aubin suggested that UCLA, or any location with a full-time staff, would be appropriate.

4. The next agenda item was a discussion of the name change of UCLGBA to UCLGBTA, with the 'T' representing Transgender persons:
* Communication from Lawrence Livermore Labs indicated that they had changed the name of their organization to include 'Transgender.'
* UCR had an open house which specifically addressed transgender issues.
* UCSD had a panel with Shirley Bushnell, UCSD staff member. It is on the agenda to change the name at the next Chancellor's Advisory Committee meeting.
* UCSC Chancellor's Advisory Committee and student group plan to change the name to include transgender. A panel addressing the issue is planned.
* UCSF plans to rename their group GLBTA next year. The change is not yet officially approved.
* UCI has officially requested that the student center be renamed. Students at the campus have indicated they want more info on transgender issues; Chancellor's Advisory Committee has not yet addressed the issue.
* UCLA has changed the name of the office, student group and resource group, etc. Have not yet changed the name of the staff/faculty group.
* UCD has not yet officially changed the name yet, there is still division among constituents. Campus representatives have recommended an educational panel on the issue for next year.
* UCB has not officially changed the name of the student organization, as their campus operates with a number of different queer groups with various names, etc.

Following this report from the various campuses there was a general discussion of the use of specific identities, such as 'bisexual' or 'transgender' versus 'queer'. Many felt that the concept was an appropriate goal but not at this time. There was also a discussion of the order of the letters in the name of the organization (UCLGBTA).

5. The next item on the agenda was dates and locations for future Steering Committee meetings. The next meeting is planned for UCSD on October 19, 1996. There was also discussion of a date for a meeting with UC President Atkinson, sometime after the November elections. There was also a confirmation of the next UCLGBTA Conference on February 14-16 at UCI, which will also coincide with a Steering Committee meeting. The April 1997 Steering Committee meeting will be in Northern California, at either UCSC, UCSF, UCB or LLL. There followed a general discussion of a 1998 Conference location and Steering Committee meetings, with a consensus that the November 1997 Steering Committee meeting would be at either UCR, UCLA or UCSB (this will be decided at the November 1997 Steering Committee meeting.)

6. Sarah Archibald and John White then announced the UCSD plans in response to the Republic National Convention planned for San Diego in August 1996. The Lesbian/Gay Center in San Diego is coordinating actions among various groups. Pat Buchanan will be speaking August 10, 1996 at the UCSD campus. Contact: LGBTVoices@aol.com.

7. Mentorship programs were the next item of discussion and what each campus is doing in regard to this issue:
* UCB has an alumni mentor program, which is undergoing reorganization. There is a lack of student participation, as 120 mentors have registered and only 30-40 students expressed an interest in connecting with a mentor.
* UCLA has a very active alumni mentor program, with Lambda Alumni, scholarships and fund-raising in addition to the mentoring program. They are also launching an internship program.
* UCI has training for mentors/mentees. The school gives credit for students in the mentee program, handled through the Cross-Cultural Center.
* UCSD is planning a mentorship program.
* UCI representatives expressed an interest in building a University-based LGBT leadership program and there followed a general discussion of Leadership Forums and other forms of leadership training.

8. At this point it was decided that each campus sponsoring the Steering Committee meeting would be responsible for the recording and reporting of minutes for the meeting. Rich Beatty volunteered to be in charge of the master records for the organization.

9. The group broke at 11:25am for lunch and resumed at 12:10pm. The first item of action was a discussion of progress on Domestic Partner (DP) benefits. Jonathan Winters provided a compilation of the status of 'soft' benefits at each campus/lab. There was an update on the status of the change in student housing for each campus and the issue of a meeting with UC President Atkinson was again discussed. It was announced that UCSC has a new Chancellor who is sympathetic to LGBT issues. The discussion then focused on the current issue of DP benefits and student housing.

While there was a promise of a new policy statement on housing at the 1996 UCLGBTA Conference, no statement has yet been issued. In reference to this issue, at the April Council of Chancellors (COC) meeting the approval of children as priority and the decentralization of housing was on the agenda. Apparently, Atkinson had this item pulled from the agenda, and it was promised that the item would be on the agenda at the May meeting of the COC. It was suggested that individual Regents were polled on their position on the issue by the Office of the President.

The Steering Committee unanimously agreed that the UCLGBTA should respond with a letter to Atkinson, with copies to all of the Chancellors, and VP's Kennedy and Galligani. Support should also be solicited from the UC Academic Council, UCSA, and the UC Staff Assembly (CUCSA). Also agreed that, should there be no movement on the issue, that press releases should be distributed to campus newspapers, urging letters to Chancellors and Atkinson. Jonathan Winters, Sarah Archibald and John White will draft letter and share information with the rest of the Steering Committee members. The issue of the UCFW draft letter regarding DP benefits, as presented by Robert Anderson (UCB), was discussed, as it is currently unresolved. As a result of this discussion on DP benefits, it was agreed that UCLGBTA should strongly push for an immediate meeting with Atkinson re: the COC meeting and the lack of progress on domestic partners in student housing. Jonathan Winters agreed to try and arrange a meeting with Atkinson as soon as possible.

In addition, Al Aubin is presenting information to the UCRS regarding DP benefits. There was also a brief discussion of the 'Ward Connerly' question, with the result that a political association with Regent Connerly would not be encouraged.

10. Membership was the next item on the agenda and there was a discussion of the number of representatives attending and voting at Steering Committee meetings. While the UCLGB(T)A Constitution states that only two Steering Committee members from each campus may vote, it does not limit attendance and there is not size limit on the Steering Committee. It was suggested that each campus try to have one representative each for faculty, staff, undergraduate and graduate students, where appropriate. Also suggested that there be new member training for Steering Committee members, with the best time at the first meeting of the academic year (traditionally, in October.) It was also proposed, but not voted on, that the UCLGB(T)A Constitution be amended to allow for three members from each campus/lab.

Discussion of membership continued regarding recruitment & orientation of new members at each campus. Orientation packets for new members should include: minutes from meetings of previous two years, a copy of the current UCLGBTA Constitution, a list of names of Steering Committee members, a UC organizational chart and copies of the current UCLGBTA information pamphlet along with recent press releases, communications and information on recent Conferences. Al Aubin, Roland Sintos Coloma and Pat Walsh volunteered to put together the new members packets. Thom Cross and Shih Chang agreed to revise the UCLGBTA pamphlet.

11. Roland Sintos Coloma and Dan McGrath also distributed the UC Campus Survey that they compiled, which will be updated for new members and future meetings.

12. It was also announced that UCSD now has a new campus-based scholarship for LGBT students for $1,000 each. UCI has two $1,200 scholarships available for LGBT students. It was recommended that scholarship information be added to the UC Campus Survey and the new member packet.

13. The final item on the agenda was burn-out. Specifically discussed burn-out at the laboratories, where veteran members are doing most of the work and job security is a major concern. It was proposed that one way to avoid burn-out is by developing leadership (discussed earlier) as a way of building support and maintaining continuity. Another suggestion regarded leadership awards for LGBT faculty/staff/students at various campuses and by the UCLGBTA as a whole. UCD has an annual awards dinner to recognize LGBT leadership and to provide a relaxed social setting for LGBTs on campus. It was suggested that the Steering Committee try to socialize in a non-structured informal setting where business is not discussed. As the last point, it was moved that outgoing UCLA Chancellor Young be recognized by the UCLGBTA prior to retirement. The specific proposal is to recognize his support of UCLGBTA and LGBT issues at the 1997 Conference. The motion was moved and carried by vote with no opposition.

14. The meeting was then adjourned at 3:30pm.