<HTML><BODY style="word-wrap: break-word; -khtml-nbsp-mode: space; -khtml-line-break: after-white-space; "><DIV class="MsoNormal">Dear Friends,</DIV><DIV class="MsoNormal"> <O:P></O:P></DIV><DIV class="MsoNormal">The Diversity Committee has begun our first year with new partnerships, events and a committed membership. We are excited about our plans for the next few months, and want to work more with you to reach common goals for a more diverse and inclusive MIT campus. You are invited to our next Diversity Committee meeting on Tuesday Nov. 21<FONT class="Apple-style-span" size="2"><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 10px;">st</SPAN></FONT> at 6:30pm in the GSC Office (2<FONT class="Apple-style-span" size="2"><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 10px;">nd</SPAN></FONT> Floor of Walker Memorial). Please RSVP for the meeting, as dinner will be served.</DIV><DIV class="MsoNormal"> <O:P></O:P></DIV><DIV class="MsoNormal">Please take a look at some of the things we are up to- we want your input and participation.</DIV><P class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -24px;margin-left: 0.5in; "><SPAN style="mso-font-width:0%">-<SPAN style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </SPAN></SPAN><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#FF2807">Minority Graduate Students Dinner on Friday, November 17</FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" size="2"><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 10px;"><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#FF2807">th</FONT></SPAN></FONT> at 6:30 pm at Harriet Tubman House on the corner of Mass. Ave and Columbus Ave. in the South End (Take the #1 bus from MIT and get off after the Mass. Ave. Orange Line stop). This will be a great chance to fellowship with classmates and meet new folks from different departments while enjoying delicious food from Merengue. New and returning students are welcome. </P><P class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -24px;margin-left: 0.5in; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span"><SPAN style="mso-font-width:0%">-<SPAN style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </SPAN></SPAN>After the Provosts’ annual review of underrepresented minority recruitment efforts at the Faculty Meeting last month, we requested a <FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#FF2807">meeting with Chancellor Clay and Provost Reif</FONT> to discuss MIT’s progress and continuing challenges in this area. The meeting is scheduled for November 30th. We will address some of the recommendations from our report last spring, but want to bring the ideas of a wide group of students. At our next Diversity Committee meeting (Tuesday Nov. 21<FONT class="Apple-style-span" size="2"><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 10px;">st</SPAN></FONT> at 6:30pm) we will discuss who will attend the meeting and strategy. If you have ANY suggestions, please email them to <A href="mailto:gsc-diversity@mit.edu">gsc-diversity@mit.edu</A> and/or join us at the next meeting.</SPAN></P><P class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -24px;margin-left: 0.5in; "><SPAN style="mso-font-width:0%">-<SPAN style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </SPAN></SPAN>We have other projects underway including planning for an Institute-wide discussion of what it means to be a “person of color” or “minority” for people who are born in the U.S. compared to those born and raised in other countries but now living in the U.S. We also hope to hold and art and culture exhibition that will showcase the work of MIT artists in residence and engage students, faculty and staff.</P><P class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -24px;margin-left: 0.5in; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span"><SPAN style="mso-font-width:0%">-<SPAN style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </SPAN></SPAN>There is another great incentive for members and officers of your organization to join Diversity Committee. The GSC recently passed the <FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#FF2807">GSC Discretionary Allocation to Graduate Student Group</FONT> — An optional allocation of up to $250 per Fall and Spring semester will be given to graduate student groups that become involved with the GSC by having an officer as a member of a GSC committee.</SPAN></P><DIV class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0px;"> <O:P></O:P></DIV><DIV class="MsoNormal">We will discuss this and much more at the meeting, hope to see you there. Feel free to send this around to other individuals and groups that I have left off of the list. </DIV><DIV class="MsoNormal"> <O:P></O:P></DIV><DIV class="MsoNormal">Thanks</DIV><DIV class="MsoNormal">Elizabeth Clay and Nakeischea Loi Smith, Co-Chairs</DIV><BR></BODY></HTML>