It's been a busy and productive first week of classes for the Martin Jischke administration. In the past few days, Purdue's 10th president and staff have made strides to ensure Purdue remains one of the top academic institutions in the nation as well as one of the most equitable.

Tuesday, Purdue officially amended its non-discrimination policy to include marital status, parental status and sexual orientation. By doing so, the University proclaimed that any discrimination against any member of the Purdue community will not be tolerated.

Purdue was the last member of the Big Ten universities to add the policy changes to include previously considered controversial criteria such as sexual orientation.

Let us not get the wrong idea. Sure, Purdue was the last Big Ten university to officially make the change, but officials said this was Purdue's disposition all along. But Jischke and his staff felt like some clarifying needed to be done. Give Jischke credit as now they have clarified the issue and there are no questions left unanswered regarding the non-discrimination policy.

Hopefully the aftereffects of the policy alteration will influence more than attitudes about opportunity.

These policy alterations should be considered an instrumental step not only in ensuring equal treatment to all members of the Purdue community, but hopefully in ensuring equal acceptance as well.

Earlier in the week, Purdue also announced that it has named four finalists for the provost position, which, according to University officials, will be in place on July 1.

The naming of the provost, who will be responsible for academic programs, educational programs, research programs and teaching programs, is also a small victory for the Jischke administration.

It's unusual that a university releases names of finalists for a position until the winner is named. Routinely, when a position of importance is being applied for, candidates are officially revealed in hindsight. This, however, may be a sign that Purdue is committed to keeping this community informed of all that is important to its lives.

It is big news. When University officials keep the community informed, it makes all feel involved.

By taking action on issues quickly and subsequently keeping the surrounding community informed, Jischke and his staff are making a commitment to us. A commitment that they won't sit on issues, especially important ones such as the non-discrimination policy changes. A commitment that will hopefully continue far into the future.

Let's hope this is merely a sign for things to come from the Jischke administration.

n Editorial Board: Keith Thomas, Tom McHenry, Melissa Davis, Laura Pelner.