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kaysixteen
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« on: August 01, 2006, 03:16:14 PM » |
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If we accept for the sake of argument that academia thinks 'diversity' in terms of faculty and students is a good thing in and of itself, then it behooves us to know what 'diversity' is, and how to properly define and register it. Diversity in terms of what, IOW, race, gender, socioeconomic class, sexual preference, what else, and why?
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anon2
Junior member
Posts: 87
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« Reply #1 on: August 01, 2006, 03:36:07 PM » |
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At my university the definition of diversity is any group that cannot call itself white and male.
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basilratbane
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« Reply #2 on: August 01, 2006, 08:26:08 PM » |
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So, anon2, your school actually has that famous program in Lefthanded Lithuanian Lesbian Studies that we've been warned about for years?
Congratulations.
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joehardy
New member
Posts: 49
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« Reply #3 on: August 01, 2006, 10:24:13 PM » |
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If we accept for the sake of argument that academia thinks 'diversity' in terms of faculty and students is a good thing in and of itself, then it behooves us to know what 'diversity' is, and how to properly define and register it. Diversity in terms of what, IOW, race, gender, socioeconomic class, sexual preference, what else, and why?
Diversity for me is, simply, that I'm not in a community where everyone is alike. As far students go, diversity means recruiting from a variety of areas, not just the comfort zone of the area in which most students have heard of your school. In addition to obvious categories such as race, geography can also be a factor. Even students who share the same racial, ethnic and economic background, but who come from different regions, can enhance diversity. This is true even within defined groups. A few years ago I got saddled with a section of Freshman Seminar. A discussion arose one day among the black students about some black athletes from small towns didn't identify at all with black athletes (even on the same team) from big cities. Those from small southern towns had grown up with all the traditions of such an area - homecoming games, church singings and "dinner on the ground," pickup trucks and country music. Their black teammates from places like St. Louis or L.A. had very different cultural references. You can see the same diversity within other groups. Sharing an ethnic or racial heritage often is superceded by cultural and economic background differences. The same is true for groupings such as gender and sexual orientation. That's why it's rather simplistic to recruit strictly in terms of broad groups. The same is true of faculty. Cast a wide net, base admissions on standards of quality and diversity will ensue. |
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Communication & Theatre: Media & Film Studies
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acrimone
The Red Queen's Court Assassin
Distinguished Senior Member
Posts: 4,049
I am not a professor at all, despite what I say.
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« Reply #4 on: September 21, 2006, 08:48:54 PM » |
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I have lived in eight states, and at least fourteen communities within those eight states (not counting short stays of under 6 months), have visited 47 of our states and several other countries and I have never, ever, ever in my entire life been "in a community where everyone is alike."
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"All right, but apart from the sanitation, the medicine, education, wine, public order, irrigation, roads, a fresh water system, and public health, what have the Romans ever done for us?"
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slac_barbarian
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« Reply #5 on: May 11, 2010, 07:29:08 AM » |
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Diversity is giving a voice to those who don't have many posts on the fora.
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ellaminnow
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« Reply #6 on: May 11, 2010, 07:53:14 AM » |
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Diversity is the presence of traditionally underrepresented or otherwise marginalized groups in addition to a recognition and appreciation for the hidden diversities of a place (e.g. religion, sexual orientation) which varies by institution and region.
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Some people wear their heart up on their sleeve. I wear mine underneath my right pant leg, strapped to my boot.
~Ani DiFranco
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der_gadfly
SSOB-hatin', snarklet-writin'
Distinguished Senior Member
Posts: 1,844
oy vey
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« Reply #7 on: May 11, 2010, 10:36:25 AM » |
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Diversity is not something that is limited to race, creed, origin, or any of the typical categories. It also reflects divergent worldviews and exposure to the same. Talk diversity all you want, but also respect the rights of others whose views are the polar opposites of yours. You want to embrace multi-culturalism: great, but also allow those who speak 'redneck' the same opportunities to exist despite their adherence to anything BUT multi-culturalism.
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(and I bow before der_gadfly) Don't forget, that cat hair can come in handy as a good luck charm! |
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slac_barbarian
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« Reply #8 on: May 11, 2010, 11:59:48 AM » |
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respect the rights of others whose views are the polar opposites of yours.
Agreed. And this should also apply to those on the fora. |
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yellowtractor
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« Reply #9 on: May 11, 2010, 12:25:47 PM » |
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If you are contacted as part of an Unadvertised Diversity Search, then the secret of true diversity is yours. Until then, it's more problematic, on the Fora as well as off.
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Just go and collapse in someone's office and moan, "You've got to help me; I just can't be the guy who brings the ham." |
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rear_view_mirror
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« Reply #10 on: May 11, 2010, 07:22:07 PM » |
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At my university the definition of diversity is any group that cannot call itself white and male.
You sound like a white guy. Would you mind letting others have a say? |
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der_gadfly
SSOB-hatin', snarklet-writin'
Distinguished Senior Member
Posts: 1,844
oy vey
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« Reply #11 on: May 12, 2010, 12:44:35 PM » |
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respect the rights of others whose views are the polar opposites of yours.
Agreed. And this should also apply to those on the fora. We just like to argue, it is not that we run around in the middle of the night burning "Hello Kitty" dolls in effigy on the lawns of others..... I am a duck, and all of this is just rain. |
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(and I bow before der_gadfly) Don't forget, that cat hair can come in handy as a good luck charm! |
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gplm2000
New member
Posts: 4
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« Reply #12 on: May 20, 2010, 11:42:47 AM » |
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A moot argument! In higher education, diversity is limiting academic freedom to a certain non-diverse point-of-view as determined by the university administration. Similar to the Third Reich in earlier years. What is hilarious is that freedom of expression in academia means "as long as you are for diversity the way we define it". Any deviation, pun intended, is the basis for a career change. There is no honest discussion about what is meant by diversity. It is my way or the highway--ask any college president.
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larryc
Hu hatin'
Distinguished Senior Member
Posts: 17,568
Eschew the hu.
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« Reply #13 on: May 20, 2010, 01:41:51 PM » |
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A moot argument! In higher education, diversity is limiting academic freedom to a certain non-diverse point-of-view as determined by the university administration. Similar to the Third Reich in earlier years. What is hilarious is that freedom of expression in academia means "as long as you are for diversity the way we define it". Any deviation, pun intended, is the basis for a career change. There is no honest discussion about what is meant by diversity. It is my way or the highway--ask any college president.
Everyone must look about the same under the bridge because it is so dark down there. |
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prufrock
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« Reply #14 on: May 20, 2010, 09:48:20 PM » |
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If we accept for the sake of argument that academia thinks 'diversity' in terms of faculty and students is a good thing in and of itself... Okay, I know you've proposed this for the sake of argument, but I don't understand how diversity is "a good thing in and of itself" -- i.e., an intrinsic good. Its goodness, on the assumption that it is good, seems clearly instrumental, not intrinsic: if it's good, isn't it because of other benefits it produces, goods it produces? (And of course its being an instrumental rather than an intrinsic good does not mean it's not important...) |
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