NIU’s vice presidents are trying to prevent racism at NIU with an action plan implemented last spring including affirmitive action and steps to confront racial incidents.

“Over the past year and a half, a number of incidents have occurred across the country. Discrimination is not recognized as a localized issue; it occurs across many campuses,” said Jon Dalton, vice president for student affairs.

The purpose of the Institutional Action Plan is to address discriminatory actions and prevent them from occurring. Dalton said he thinks the plan has been effective.

He stressed that NIU is one of a few campuses to actually get a plan down on paper. “It’s one thing to meet and talk about things, but it’s another thing to write them down and follow through and review,” he said.

NIU will emphasize through statements, educational programs, and judicial sanctions that discrimination will not be tolerated.

Richard Flournory has been appointed as civil service affirmative action officer of an expanded affirmative action office.

Flournory said he will be responsible for non-academic and civil service employees. He is also planning a “learning and training program” for them.

NIU Provost Kendall Baker is heading a special advisory committee to develop incentives for affirmative action faculty hiring.

NIU Ombudsman Bertrand Simpson said a discrimination hotline was established last spring. He said he does not know the total number of calls that were received last spring, but there were no complaints during the summer or so far this fall.

Simpson said, “Sometimes people called anonymously and others wouldn’t issue a complaint. Only seven incident reports about discriminatory incidents were written last spring.”

William Monat, chairman of the University Council Monitor Subcommittee on Racial Concerns, said, “I think progress has been made, but there’s still work to do.”

Monat said the values of diversity, sensitivity to needs of people, and alertness to possibilities of harrassment and discrimination are neccessary. “If instances or allegations occur, these should be investigated,” he said.