CAUT's newly established Equity Committee held its first face-to-face meeting at Ryerson Polytechnic University in May and welcomed its newest member, Piet Defraeye, a gay activist and drama professor from the University of Alberta.

"The committee is made up of faculty association members from a variety of equity groups and will play a vital role in advising the CAUT executive on equity matters," said CAUT executive member Loretta Czernis who is also the chair of the new committee.

Professor Defraeye joins equity committee members:

Carl James - faculty of education at York University and also teaches in its school of social work. Carl works on issues of equity related to race, class, and gender and has written Experiencing Difference published by Fernwood Press in 2000. He has been a member of York's faculty of education equity committee since it was established.

Greg Guy - department of languages, literature and linguistics at York University. Greg's research has focused on linguistic diversity, in connection with which he has done research bearing on issues of race, class and gender in language use, linguistic prejudice and exclusionary usages of language. Greg has been a long time activist in the area of equity.

Anver Saloojee - department of politics and school of public administration at Ryerson Polytechnic University. He developed a course entitled "Issues in Equity and Human Rights." Anver has done extensive research on creating inclusive teaching and learning environments and publishes in the area of employment equity.

Richard Atleo - Umeek is his Nuu-chah-nulth name, was born into the house of Keesta. The curriculum he teaches at Malaspina University-College is First Nations studies. Richard is committed to the recognition of aboriginal people and their perspectives in education.

Linda Goulet - department of Indian education at the Saskatchewan Indian Federated College in Regina. Linda teaches a human justice class that examines institutional racism in education.

Enakshi Dua - department of sociology at Queen's University. Ena's research interests are in the areas of feminist theory and third world studies. She is also interested in post-colonial studies, critical race studies and cultural theory. She has worked on theorizing the interconnections between race and gender in the Canadian context.

Representing aboriginal people, gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered, people with disabilities and visible minorities, committee members will assist CAUT in addressing equity issues that are important for academic staff, notes Czernis. "We're very excited about the potential this committee brings to CAUT."