Common Ground Corner

CGAC members

Eleven faculty, staff and students are joining seven returning members on the Common Ground Action Committee for 2007-08. The new members are Adrian Bitton, '09; Dr. Nuray Grove, director of ESL Services; Andrew Gurka, Richmond College area coordinator; Miles Johnson, '09; Camisha Jones, University Chaplaincy; Dr. Mari Lee Mifsud, chair, Department of Rhetoric and Communication Studies; Pamela Spence, dean of admission (ex officio); Mario Villalba Ferreira, '10; Elisabeth Wray, adjunct professor of history and humanities and coordinator, Liberal Arts Program, SCS; Dr. Eric Yellin, assistant professor of history; and Avrell Young, painter, University Facilities.

Returning to the committee are Louise Ball, '08; Kevin Crennan, '08; Christine D'Amour, director, financial operations; Jane Dowrick, director, Osher Institute for Lifelong Learning; Dr. Glyn Hughes, director, Office of Common Ground (chair); Dr. R. Kirk Jonas, interim associate provost (ex officio); and Carl Sorensen, associate vice president, human resources (ex officio).

Prospective CGAC members wrote essays to explain why they wanted to participate on the committee and went through a selection process.

"As a student affairs professional, I am committed to working with issues of social justice, and I wanted the opportunity to serve on the CGAC to continue that work in a substantive and policy role, as well as from a programmatic role," explained Andrew Gurka. "I believe that one of the roles of the action committee should be to help educate faculty, staff and students about the need for a more inclusive community, and I want to have an active role in this process, be an agent for change and for progress at the University."

Become involved

There are opportunities for other members of the campus community to be involved with CGAC through its subcommittees. Contact the Common Ground office if you are interested.

The committee's 2006-07 annual report is available on the Common Ground Web site at http://common ground.richmond.edu.

Common Ground Action Committee meetings are open to any interested faculty, staff or student. Meetings are held in the Think Tank, on the second floor of Tyler Haynes Commons.

"By attending CGAC meetings or serving on a subcommittee, members of the campus community can have a voice in our work. We welcome participation in what truly needs to be a campus-wide effort to become an inclusive community," said Glyn Hughes, director of Common Ground.

Office relocated

The Common Ground office has moved. Common Ground Director Glyn Hughes and Common Ground Coordinator Lisa Miles are now in Tyler Haynes Commons, Room 329.