Iowa State President Martin Jischke said Wednesday that faculty members are not trained to deal with classroom diversity.

Though a diversity steering committee is researching how such training could take place, Jischke said at a noon diversity forum in the Sun Room of the Memorial Union, that it will be difficult to implement such training programs.

The forum, “Strategies for Change at ISU: A Forum on Diversity” was attended by about 200 people. It lasted about 90 minutes.

Students, faculty and staff were able to ask questions of the two panelists: Jischke and Derrick Rollins, diversity adviser to the president’s cabinet.

Several organizations had representatives present to ask the panel questions and give suggestions concerning the state of diversity at Iowa State.

Jamey Hansen, vice chairman of the Government of the Student Body Senate and a senior in education, asked if college professors are trained to incorporate diversity into their classes.

Jischke said ISU, like most universities, does not have diversity training for professors.

However, he said anyone with an idea of how to achieve such a goal should contact him or the steering committee.

Rollins said students also need to be sensitive to diversity issues.

“I don’t see any effort by students addressing the problem of diversity. Organizations are often isolated by race,” he said.

Rollins said diverse groups on campus are not interacting the way they should. “We are not thinking about the small things we can do to take initiative to get together.”

Audience members expressed concern over a variety of issues ranging from the lack of an Asian-student cultural center to the number of minority faculty at ISU.

Jamal White, a representative from the Black Student Alliance, expressed his concern with the ethnic studies program and its lack of funding.

He questioned why the university does not have an Asian-studies program.

White questioned Jischke’s research about Catt Hall, and how he formed his opinion on the name of the building.

“I have read the book she compiled. I read the whole book and all of Chapter Six. My conclusion was that she commits to the idea that all should be included in democracy,” Jischke said. “I did not interpret that chapter to which she emphasized [to mean] white supremacy.”

Jischke added that he also concluded from his research that Catt was not a racist.

He said she had a deep anger inside for the way all women were being treated.

Jischke said he had no answer to White’s first question: why ISU lacks an Asian studies program.

The effectiveness of current diversity programs was also discussed.

LaRhonda Potts, representing multicultural support groups in the residence halls, suggested the diversity programs the university already has need to be re-evaluated and improved.

Heidi Frey, president of the Richardson Court Association’s student government, agreed. Frey said to the panel: “Educate us daily on what you are doing.”

She suggested the programs and ideas the university comes up with should be printed in the Daily.

Funding was a concern of many who attended the forum.

David Topel, dean of the College of Agriculture, said there is no longer funding available to recruit minority faculty.

Rollins agreed and said he felt bothered by the recruitment process of minority faculty, the assumption that people think that a quality education is only better if minority faculty is recruited and that minorities need more opportunities for faculty positions.

Some minority members of the audience said they are being overlooked by the university. A representative from the Asian Pacific American Awareness Coalition, Lang Tran, spoke out.

“The needs of the Asian students are not being seen. We don’t have access to a cultural center,” Tran said.

Reis Pearson coordinator for the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Student Services Office, commented during audience questions about the lack of support on campus for the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Alliance.

Upset and near tears, Pearson said the office for LGBTA receives a small amount of funding to cover the many expenses it has in helping nearly 2,000 students.