Comments on: Diversify the Faculty of “Diversity University!”

By: “Diversity University”, in scare quotes? - Wesleying

“Diversity University”, in scare quotes? - Wesleying — Tue, 05 May 2009 06:18:43 +0000

[...] students, administrators, and staff of this university agree or disagree with the arguments of our last Wespeak, it is undeniable that a problem exists. Wesleyan ought to strive towards transforming its students [...]

By: Travis Ferguson

Travis Ferguson — Mon, 04 May 2009 05:21:03 +0000

Well said Jason! all people of color face discrimination but the acuity in higher education has much to do w/ Blacks, Latinos/as from the U.S. Teachers have often stereotyped us for underacheiving- even when were the biggest nerds in the class bc of how we look as well as how we interact w/ the dominant white culture.

By: Jason

Jason — Mon, 04 May 2009 03:30:07 +0000

I appreciate your thoughts, Alicia and Stephanie. I agree wholeheartedly that "people of color" includes more than just "Blacks" and "Latinos/as" even though there are individuals and groups of people who are continually written out of that general category for reasons that we can discuss later. From my understanding, the authors of the Wespeak in conversation did not intend to delimit sharply the boundaries of "people of color." Yes, it is true that Wesleyan needs to recruit, mentor, and tenure faculty members who identify as Pacific Islanders, Asians/Asian-Americans, northern and southern Native Americans/American Indians, etc. I believe that the only reason that "Blacks" and "Latinos/as" were mentioned specifically in the Wespeak was because of the acutely precarious relationships that those people groups have had with the United States and its systems of higher education.

By: A Request to Diversify Wesleyan’s Faculty - Wesleying

A Request to Diversify Wesleyan’s Faculty - Wesleying — Sun, 03 May 2009 23:07:02 +0000

[...] should be appearing as a Wespeak in the Argus today, but here’s the full letter - read the whole thing after the jump. What do you [...]

By: Stephanie Lee '11

Stephanie Lee '11 — Sun, 03 May 2009 02:41:03 +0000

I support this Wespeak however I also agree with Alicia Castagno. The lack of Asian American Studies on this campus is something that the SOC community should support as a whole, not just a few Asian American students.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 02 May 2009 22:42:40 +0000

Arabs are considered white. Go figure.

By: Alicia Castagno

Alicia Castagno — Sat, 02 May 2009 21:19:11 +0000

Please do add my name to the list of supporters, but may I just bring to your attention your disregard for other communities of color and lack of faculty of color from ethnicities BESIDES Black and Latino. Somehow "of color" and "Black and Latino" have become synonymous on this campus, and I do not think that is in anyone's best interest. Just as Jason Harris preached of female equality and freedom being necessary for male freedom, so it is with Blacks and Latinos and all other minority groups (Asian, Arab, Pacific Islander, etc.) of which there are virtually NO non-international faculty members on campus. Thanks!