OPINION University makes progress; has long way to go How would you account for the difference of opinions bo tween students and adminis trators toward the University's efforts to foster a positive edu cational environment for mi nority students? This question assumes there is a fundamental differ ence of opinion, an as sumption I do not wholly ac cept. 1 believe students and admin istrators share the same basic goals for achieving true racial and ethnic diversity on this eampus and reflecting a multicultural perspective in the curriculum. Also, we agree that while some progress has been made in fostering a positive educa tional environment for minor ity students ut the University, much — very much — remains to bo done. In fact, 1 believe these feelings prevail across campus, including among fac ulty and staff, although with somewhat varying degrees of conviction. In fact, the one mu}or differ ence I can think of overall l« that students tend to view these issues within the contoxt of their own experience on cam pus over a fixed period. Ad ministrators and faculty, though, tend to have a longor term vlow. spanning several years. Cloarly, we have moved for ward in recent years in hiring new faculty of color, especially Hispanic faculty. In other areas, particularly among African American and Natlve-Amarlcan faculty, wo nither have lost ground or barely have managed to stay even Not surprisingly, because there is a clear rela tionship between the presence of faculty of color and our abili ty to attract students of color, there have been corresponding shifts up and down among stu dents in each of these groups We cannot be satisfied until there is clear, obvious and sus tained progress across the board This will not be easy, given the harsh fiscal realities in which we operate currently — an environment In which "progress.” sadly, often means simply not losing ground. More than one potential new faculty member of color has cited tU'HI’s Measure 5 and the Uni versity's continuing budgetary uncertainties, and their effects on recruitment and retention of new faculty and students of color, as reason enough not to join thn University. Il is also worth noting that our problems are not unique although this is no excuse for inaction. We should not over look that we have made pro gress: not as much or as fust as we would like, and certainly not across the board. But pro gress. nonetheless. Within the past year, for example, we have seen significant increases in percentages of students on our campus who identify them selves, ethnically, as Asian/I’acific Islanders (6.1 percent this yuHr versus 5 4 percent In 1991). His pan its (2 3 percent this year, 2 percent In 1991); and Native Americans (1.1 percent this year, 0.9 per cent in 1991). Most unfortu nately. wo lost ground slightly in the past year In the percent age of African-American slu dents on our campus (1.3 per cent. compared to 1.4 percent In 1991) — a setback we are committed to reversing Students know there is much I At Rainbow Optics, students are at the too of our list. rainbov^® optics 1 343-5555 ' 343-3333 1740 West 18 s.il 8 W),»m ‘*>ni 766 biist 1 3th resistance to constructive change at the University They need to keep pushing for change, because as long as this resistance persists, we will find it difficult to foster a campus climate that truly encourages faculty and students of color to come here, and to remain It does no good for a department to recruit and hire new faculty members of color, only to have them leave In a year or two be cause they find the campus lacks diversity And we still have far to go In raising awareness among the campus community its a whole that diversity is good, that we all win and grow because of it It takes many routes to get this across. Including repeatedly bringing speakers to campus to tell us about the importance of diversity and what we gain from it The challenge of deliv ering this message is height ened by the fact that roughly one-quarter of all students ea< h year are new to campus. As we consular ways in re (iuce resistance to < hango. il would help to keep in mtnd the late James Baldwin's challenge to U S society to live up to its promise of freedom and justice for all a challenge reflected In his sage observation, in 1961, that "... the question of color, especially in this coun try, operates to hide the graver questions of self.” What did Baldwin mean by this? And what does his state ment say to us. us people of conscience on a campus strug gling to reverse a gap that seems determined, here as else where, to widen rather than close? — the gap. that is, be tween what we intend to achieve and what we have achieved in racial and ethnic diversity and multiculturalism In my view. Baldwin's state ment, in part, touches on the fundamental issue of hypo crisy. that old ally of racism If we are honest about It, any at tempt we make as a campus community to address llald win's "graver questions of self” will get at whether we are what we think we are or are we only pretending? As an institution, of course, the University is formally coni milted to providing "a student body and a faculty and staff that reflect the cultural, ethnic and racial diversity of modern society That is the intent But what is the reality' As a community, how do we really see ourselves on issues o I rate a n d niultii ulluralism7 Is there gen eral acceptance, for example, that diversity makes us better7 Or do we only pay lip servin' to this goal7 Kecently. nmeraui lias run an excellent series on rui lal issues on our campus Taken together, the articles suggest 1 belli've correctly that wu arc far short of the mark in clos ing the gap I mentioned In liis’ti, I have the impression one shareiI hy many students, faculty unit stuff that some members of our community think they are far more progres sive anil activist on racial Is suits than they really are liven so, we are heading In the right direction. The chal lenge now to administrators, faculty, staff, and yes, I dare say even some students ts to make our self perception of progressiveness a definite reali ty Klylos Brand Is President of the University Editor's note: Brand agreed to take part In the "Ask the President" columns. In which the hmeruld forwards a ques tion to the President's Office for Brand's response a ‘“"""""'"""nrmr'V) +t v« rWTT SAWT**** at <•»;* »*- •** ^ ** ’v;*_ ^rnsssr rMCLD OVfHt Nightfj t 10 ($3) 7 11m Of fCc fr»r'% Bc«l f BEAUTIFUL ® fcttX/'U LA!I N»U • l*U- N.IC Aai* In S« iJ 3k m i 1< '« \ V. s 492 I E. ilh I 686 2458 So Wt J2.i tut mjou vAuftm ftsnvAii MlfHllf H n ^ tom h*mrs • MIN* Davis • MiDom CUSTOM PRINTED T-SHIRTS Lowest Ratesi HAPPY HOLIDAYS SEE YA1 IN 93 f <»irm phfs loam com tulon Single'159 Double *189 Queen'209 Iff POCK BOFT • FUTOMl 686-5069 n?<> A) Winter Cycling! Great Christmas Ideas! 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