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[edulocator]

We have all heard of the old boys' network and it is alive and well. Keep in mind that when people of so-called colour have the opportunity to break through the glass barrier of academia, it is the truly committed ones to diversity that will make sure the doors remain open for others.

I know a friend of mine who is always sending me job postings of positions open at schools she is affiliated with. She is doing her PhD at Cornell and I must say I really think her commitment to making sure other people of colour have an opportunity to achieve the kind of success she has is phenomenal. This is something I try to do too, and often it is met with great success. I hope for all of you who are concerned about this issue...you have the chance to get your foot in the door, as well as make an impact once your foot is there.

[voxprincipalis]

I can think of some impacts I would like my foot to make.

I love that we are taking the absurdity into previously un-ticked-off sections of the fora population. I eagerly anticipate the upcoming posts on "religious tolerance in the workplace" and "helpful hints for academic parents with young children."

VP

[pandora]

Zinnerson -- if you'd like to start a discussion about something specific, perhaps by citing a recent article or a report about diversity in academia, that will provide a better invitation for people to have a concrete conversation about these issues.   Starting a thread that gestures towards the topic of the entire forum is probably not a helpful place to start.  Is there something in particular you'd like to debate or discuss?  If so, I recommend reading through several of the existing threads here to have a clear sense of what kind of discussions have taken place here in the past.  Very broad generalizations -- even ones that are supportive of the topic at hand -- are probably not going to be received well.

[johnr]

We have all heard of the old boys' network and it is alive and well. Keep in mind that when people of so-called colour have the opportunity to break through the glass barrier of academia, it is the truly committed ones to diversity that will make sure the doors remain open for others.

I know a friend of mine who is always sending me job postings of positions open at schools she is affiliated with. She is doing her PhD at Cornell and I must say I really think her commitment to making sure other people of colour have an opportunity to achieve the kind of success she has is phenomenal. This is something I try to do too, and often it is met with great success. I hope for all of you who are concerned about this issue...you have the chance to get your foot in the door, as well as make an impact once your foot is there.

I have a baby stroller that constantly veers to the left.

[jonesey]

I can think of some impacts I would like my foot to make.

HOF

[grasshopper]

I want everyone in my workplace to be Just Like Me. Only not as good.

[svenc]

I share some of VP's frustration at this poster's style.

Zinnerson, if you wish to become a respected and valued member of this online community, I would suggest engaging in ongoing threads rather than constantly starting new threads with one-off "advice column" postings, often on topics that have been covered here extensively.

Given that you seem to be attempting to establish an online presence here and elsewhere on the internet, it may be wise to consider the conventions of the venues where you choose to post.

Just my own bit of unsolicited advice.

[ablewasi]

Reading a zinnerson post is like watching an Andy Hardy movie or an episode of the Waltons.


Good night, John-boy.


!a

[epistephiliac]

I especially enjoy a poster who has the tendency to start (dull, hyper-obvious) threads, never to return again. Just think what a wonderful place this would be if everyone did the same!

[edulocator]

I am still getting used to the world of discussion forums and although I see many existing postings I would like to respond to - I am still getting used to learning how to do that. For those of you who are still interested in hearing from me despite my lack of knowledge of being an expert discussion forum-type, I will do my best to get to know the forum better and respond to postings. Although I have found that many times when the issue of diversity comes up, it is rather unfortunate how prickly people can be.

[magistra]

Click on the reply button.

Type your own thoughts.  You have them, right?

Hit 'post'.

Bingo!

[lenniel]

Zinnerson -

If you are seriously trying to have a conversation with the community, just do it.  Discuss something.  Don't teach.  Have a sense of humour.  

We are an academic community of diverse backgrounds, experience and disciplines, but we all share one thing in common - we live and work in academia.  Some as administrators and full-profs, others just starting grad school.  If you read any of the threads, even the grad student and questioning threads, you will see that.   As pandora points out below, there are a lot of existing conversations on diversity, though be prepared to actually discuss it.

The objections you are facing is that you are trying to give basic advice to a group of people who are very well aware of all the issues you persist in trying to define for us.  If you start a post with an obvious statement or thinking you are giving us advice, you will be eaten alive.  You would do better to read the fora carefully to see what it entails, then decide if and how you want to enter the conversation.

[edulocator]

The way in which I enter the conversation is exactly through what I have done. I will share an experience though a friend told me about recently.

A diversity forum was being held in the capital of Canada and some comments were made by a major broadcaster that until recently visible minorities did not want to work for their broadcast station. As someone who has been teaching journalism for a long time, as well as worked as a journalist for a long time - this is absolutely not true. There seem to be assumptions made by some employers that diversity is new thing - whereas when you look at history racial issues and struggles have been going on for a long time. How does something like this get instituted in a classroom to educate students? How do you make sure that students of colour are prepared for some of the obstacles they may face in the workforce, especially if they are foreign-trained?

These are questions that I throw out for anyone to answer.

[octoprof]

The way in which I enter the conversation is exactly through what I have done.

Has this method been working well for you?

[tom74]

The capital of Canada?