HomeMy WebLinkAboutHRCMinutes_2017_02_13Brookings Human Rights Commission Minutes
Monday, February 13, 2017
Room 300, Brookings City & County Government Building
Attendance: Steve Bayer, chair; George Hamer, vice-chair; Lawrence Novotny, recorder; Shafiqur Rahman;
Chandradhar Dwivedi; Maggie Owens; Laura Renée Chandler; Meagan Irvine-Miller; Shari Thornes, city clerk-
staff
Absent: Penny Hauffe; Judy Karen
Guests: Benjamin (Chris) Hartzler representing SDSU GSA (Gender & Sexuality Alliance); Kas Williams
representing SDSU Multi-Cultural Office
Chair Bayer called the meeting to order at 12:03 pm.
The new student member was welcomed. Meagan is a SDSU graduate student in counseling, human resource
development and student affairs. She has lived in Brookings for 5 years.
The agenda was amended by Novotny to add item D4) MEI update. A motion was made by Owens, seconded by
Dwivedi, to approve the amended agenda. All present voted yes; motion carried.
A motion was made by Hamer, seconded by Dwivedi, to approve the minutes of the January 9, 2017 meeting. All
present voted yes; motion carried.
Resolution of Inclusion:
A working subcommittee consisting of Novotny, Hamer, Rev. Ort, Diane Nagy, Chris Hartzler and Thornes
submitted a draft resolution of inclusivity to submit to the City Council. A category entitled “high-risk minorities”
was added and “disabled” was changed to “people with disabilities.” The City Manager has approved the draft
resolution. A motion was made by Hamer, seconded by Owens, to approve the amended Resolution of Inclusion.
All present voted yes; motion carried.
The Resolution of Inclusion will be on the February 28 City Council Meeting Agenda. Representatives of the
Ministerial Association, Interfaith Council, SD World Affairs Council and other groups will be asked to attend the
Council meeting and speak in support of the resolution.
Town Hall Meeting:
Laura Renee Chandler and Kas Williams submitted a proposal for a town hall meeting which will be an open
dialogue surrounding race relations between marginalized communities, law enforcement, and the media. The
town hall will be held at the Performing Arts Center tentatively on April 7. The featured speaker will be Sybrina
Fulton, mother of Trayvon Martin, who was killed 5 years ago in Florida. A social mixer will be held the evening
before the meeting. The meeting is funded mainly by a grant from the SD Humanities Council. The organizers
are seeking support from local groups.
A motion was made by Novotny, seconded by Dwivedi, to co-sponsor the town hall meeting in the amount of
$1,500. All present voted yes; motion carried.
Owens volunteered to contact the Sioux Falls Humans Relations Commission to invite them to attend the town
hall meeting.
2017 Butler Award:
When Owens lived in Sioux Falls, she worked with Sioux Falls groups to seek nominations for similar awards.
A list of Brookings service clubs will be compiled and distributed to HRC members. Members will attend the
service club meetings and seek nominations for the Butler award. Kas Williams will promote the Butler award on
her campus radio diversity show. The nomination deadline is March 31. The recipient will be selected at the
April meeting.
Community Common Read:
Irvine-Miller volunteered to be the HRC representative to the campus community common read committee.
Owens left at 1:00 pm.
2016 Annual Report
A motion was made by Chandler, seconded by Dwivedi, to approve the revised 2016 Annual Report. All present
voted yes; motion carried.
The mission statement will be reviewed at the next meeting to consider making the statement match the
authority and duties as outlined in the Human Rights Commission ordinance.
Diversity Potluck:
Kas Williams with the SDSU Multi-Cultural Office was asked to be the speaker. She will also promote the town
hall meeting. The potluck will be April 9.
Legislative Updates:
Novotny advised SB 115 restricting transgender students from using locker and shower facilities that match their
sex at birth was withdrawn by the bill sponsor since the Governor would have vetoed the bill.
SB 149 will allow child placement agencies to discriminate based upon their religious beliefs. It is scheduled for
Senate hearing.
SB 124 requires legislative authority for refugee resettlement.
SCJ 15 expresses a lack of confidence in South Dakota’s refugee resettlement programs.
HRC should issue statements on the three pending bills.
SDSU Housing Fair:
The SDSU Housing Fair will be held in the Student Union on February 15 from 10-3. Rahman and Owens will staff
the table and distribute the Renters’ Rights Brochure.
Martin Luther King Awards:
The awards presentation went well. One recipient did not show and one essay winner chose not to read the
essay.
MEI:
Benjamin Hartzler is creating a safe zone training program for Brookings. Novotny requested he brief the HRC at
a future meeting. The safe zone training should contribute to Brookings’ MEI score.
Meeting Schedules
It was decided the HRC will meet on the second Monday of each month from March thru August. Since
Mondays will not work for three members in the fall semester, it was suggested to meet on the second Tuesday
for September thru December. This will be finalized at a future meeting.
Calendar:
February 15 – SDSU Housing Fair
February 28 – City Council Meeting, action on Resolution of Inclusion
March 13 – HRC meeting
March 31 – Butler Award nominations deadline
April 9 – Diversity Potluck
April 30 – Town Hall Meeting on race relations and marginalized communities
Adjourn: Motion made to adjourn at 1:21 pm. All present voted yes; motion carried.
Submitted by Lawrence Novotny, recorder