Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Editorial: Foster diversity at Virginia Tech
Conservative groups attack Tech leaders who acknowledge the value of diversity.
From the RoundTable blog
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In some circles, "diversity" is an obscene word, especially when uttered on a university campus. Virginia Tech found that out the hard way when its leaders dared to recognize that a diverse campus enriches the Hokie experience.
The dispute started a while back as Tech considered adopting diversity policies that would have affected hiring and other faculty decisions. Before officials had hashed out all of the details, the National Association of Scholars and the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education caught wind of the plan.
NAS and FIRE are conservative groups that oppose campus diversity efforts across the country. Predictably, they pitched a fit about Tech's. They alleged the school would promote mediocrity, punish excellent instructors for being the wrong race, religion, gender or sexual orientation, and politicize the campus.
Under pressure from NAS and FIRE followers, Tech withdrew its proposal last month. That should have been the end of it, but then President Charles Steger and Provost Mark McNamee reignited the controversy.
In a letter to the Tech community, they wrote, "We reaffirm that Virginia Tech is firmly committed to growing and sustaining a diverse and inclusive learning, living and working environment." Having people from different backgrounds with diverse views come to campus strengthens the educational mission, especially in Southwest Virginia.
The letter did not propose any new policies; it was mostly platitudes. Even that was too much for NAS and FIRE. The two groups overreacted, sending out letters and stoking their anti-diversity bases to fight a simple statement of principles.
Any school can take campus diversity efforts too far if it is not careful. Encouraging respect and appreciation for differences without stifling speech or imposing quotas is difficult, but many universities manage. They think hard about policies before implementing them. Anything less would be irresponsible.
Steger, McNamee and the Tech community have done nothing less. They are far from the dogmatic, politically correct end of the diversity spectrum. When NAS, FIRE and others attack now, they undermine only their own credibility.
