VOLKSWAGEN
1999 Jetta
The Challenge
Of Diversity
State University; and Carol Mack, the
direct or of Admissions for the
University of Michigan - Dearborn.
While each hailed their respective
he image is disturbing:
institution's progress toward diversity,
African-American youths
they also agreed the current trend to
bullied into skipping home-
barring race as an admissions factor
work to avoid peer accusa-
was disturbing.
tions of "acting white" when they tote
Anderson, questioning why race
schoolbooks home.
was such a problem for people to con-
Such "insidious"
sider, noted one
stereotypes make
can take into
Detroit Urban
account the color
`Leaaue President N.
of people's hair,
Charles Anderson,
the size of their
cringe. "I can't think
feet, indeed almost
of anything worse,
anything but race.
he said. But they are
"But
the
moment
you
get to race,
just one of the challenges to attempts
that's
where
the
problems
arise."
to make schools and universities
Johnson
agreed,
saying
he sees the
increasingly diverse and accessible to all
resolution
of
racial
conflicts
in the
segments of the community, he said.
society
as
the
"number
one
challenge
Anderson and Martin Baum, the
as we go into the new millennium."
chairman of the Detroit Chapter of
Likewise, Mack pointed out that as
the American Jewish Committee,
the "world gets smaller," and more glob-
joined three area educators on
al in its orientation, people must "learn,
Monday in agreeing that despite such
understand and appreciate differences."
challenges, colleges are making sub-
Yet, while she and the other pan-
stantial progress toward diversity.
elists
discussed different programs they
Their comments came at the
said had increased diversity, they also
groups' fifth annual "All People's
stressed the importance of a "mind
Visions and Dreams Dr. Martin
set'' that placed a premium on diversi-
Luther King Jr. Commemorative
ty. Jackson, at one point, bluntly said
Breakfast," held Monday on Martin
that it was "baloney" to think quotas
Luther King Jr.'s birthday in the ban-
or other piecemeal strategies would
quet hall of the Second Ebenezer
meet the goal of true diversity.
Baptist Church in Detroit.
Every citizen, he said, must have
And to keep making progress
the opportunity for higher education.
toward the goal of diversity, said
The panelists insisted that colleges
Baum, it's important for those who
must not and need not lower stan-
have benefited from diversity pro-
dards to become more accessible.
/D grams to let people know "we're just
"No," said Johnson, who said edu-
the tip of the iceberg," and to "repre-
cators need to assess their standards to
sent those behind us."
make sure they are fair. Mack suggest-
Moreover, he added, it's also
ed the need to find alternative ways to
important to make sure people know
evaluate students, particularly those
that opposition to diversity is just
who lack stated admissions criteria, to
wrongheaded."
see if they "might" be able to succeed.
Baum's sentiments were warmly
All said it was important to not
greeted by the audience of perhaps 50
only admit a diverse student popula-
who braved snow and ice Monday to
tion and develop equally diverse facul-
/-
honor King's memory and listen to a
ties, but also to ensure the existence of
panel discussion on the topic.
equally strong programs to retain stu-
On the panel were Robert E.
dents once they are admitted.
Johnson, vice provost, Office of
Johnson said it's equally important
Enrollment Management, Oakland
to start ingraining into students from
University; Murray Jackson, a member
the earliest years that the "reality is
of the Board of Governors of Wayne
that anyone can go to college. It's not
a matter of 'if,' but 'which' college." f1
Jon Hall is a freelance writer based
\ in Ann Arbor.
JON HALL
Special to The Jewish News
Detroit pan el examines
ways to op en college
opport unities.
"
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Detroit Jewish News
1/22
1999
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