About 150 representatives from the 14 State System of Higher Education universities are expected to attend a two-day conference designed to promote a “greater sense of community” among ethnic and racially diverse groups within the System.

The conference, titled “Building Community: Strategies for Strengthening Race Relations at the State System of Higher Education Universities,” will be held Oct. 20 and 21 at Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania. Co-Sponsors of the event are the Office of the Chancellor and the federal Office for Civil Rights.

The conference will begin with a panel discussion on the delicate balance between the individual’s right to freedom of speech and protection from harassment. The discussion will include how universities respond to situations where free speech and protection from harassment conflict. Panelists will include Robert Mulle, the State System’s chief legal counsel; Jerome Hutson from the Office of Multi-Cultural Affairs at West Chester University of Pennsylvania; Mary Beth Curry, a graduate student in communications from Clarion University of Pennsylvania; Patricia Hopson-Shelton from the Social Equity Office at Millersville University of Pennsylvania; and Jonathan Alger, legal counsel for the American Association of University Professors.

The second session of the day will include a discussion of effective programs specifically designed to improve the working relationship between academic and student affairs. Scheduled presenters are Rogers Laugand from the Office of Minority Student Services and Mary Ann McLaughlin from the Education Department at Clarion University; Diane Jefferson from the Minority Affairs Office at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania; Emily Sinsabaugh from the Office of the President at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania; and Renay Scales from the Office of Human Diversity and Kathy Lynch from the Housing and Residence Life Office at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania.

The second day of the conference will open with a presentation by Frank Amoroso of the U.S. Department of Justice. Amoroso will talk about the President’s Initiative on Race.

Rosemary Fennell and Joan Williams of the Office for Civil Rights then will facilitate a pair of discussions on race, one for students attending the conference and the other for faculty and staff.

The final morning session will feature a discussion on “Racial Harassment at Universities in Pennsylvania,” to be presented by Gertrude Keasley from the Office for Civil Rights.

The conference will conclude with a pair of afternoon sessions.

During a session titled “Understanding and Resolving Ethnic-Based Conflict on Campus,” Sol B. Vázquez Otero from the State System’s Office of Social Equity will talk about hate group activity in Pennsylvania, and Alvin Herring from The Fusion Group of Baltimore will discuss conflict resolution strategies for handling such controversial issues as prejudicial jokes, comments and slurs.

Jocelind Gant from the Social Equity Office at Clarion University will conduct the final session by presenting the conference booklet, which will include information about highly successful programs operating within the State System and elsewhere.

Mary W. Burger, the State System’s vice chancellor for academic and student affairs, will provide closing remarks.

The State System of Higher Education is the largest provider of higher education in the Commonwealth. Its 14 universities offer more than 250 degree and certificate programs in more than 120 areas of study. Nearly 350,000 System alumni live and work in Pennsylvania.

The state-owned universities are Bloomsburg, California, Cheyney, Clarion, East Stroudsburg, Edinboro, Indiana, Kutztown, Lock Haven, Mansfield, Millersville, Shippensburg, Slippery Rock and West Chester Universities of Pennsylvania. The System also operates branch campuses in Clearfield, Kittanning, Oil City and Punxsutawney and several regional centers, including the Dixon University Center in Harrisburg and the University Center for Southwest Pennsylvania in Pittsburgh. The regional centers are part of the Educational Resources Group, which is responsible for coordinating statewide programming.