Diversity Schizophrenia At UVa

Ever since the alleged attack on Daisy Lundy the University of Virginia has been engaged in a frenzy of diversity development. The action has been so fast and furious — a new Diversity Commission here, proposed mandatory diversity training there, etc., etc. — that on occasion it seems to be tripping over itself.

The felt necessity to study and enhance “diversity” at UVa derives in large part from the view that discrimination, exclusion, and other racial unpleasantness is rampant and must be corrected. In this regard the new Diversity Commission chairs have just met with the University’s Board of Visitors to report on the great amount of work that lies ahead. As the Cavalier Daily reported today,

Both the Board of Visitors’ Special Committee on Diversity and the President’s Commission on Diversity and Equity were formed last spring, in part as a response to incidences of racial intolerance at the University, including a blackface incident at a fraternity party and the alleged racially-motivated assault of then-Student Council presidential candidate Daisy Lundy.

In the midst of all this perceived racial intolerance, however, this weekend the University’s Admissions Office is sponsoring its annual “Fall Fling,” in which it brings prospective minority students to the Grounds and attempts to persuade them to come to UVa because it is such a fine place.

The event showcases an open house for African-American prospective students and their families. Fall Fling is being held to familiarize high school juniors and seniors with the University, give them a chance to meet current and prospective students and to receive scholarship and financial aid information….

“It is very important for U.Va. to continue its outreach efforts,” Dean of Students Penny Rue said.

Rue will speak at the event and described her role as giving students and parents a chance to have their questions answered.

Dean of African-American Affairs M. Rick Turner also will speak at the event and will describe the support services available for black students and parents.

The University has the “highest average graduation rate for African-American students at a public institution,” Turner said….

[Although this is true, it is also true, as I discussed here, that blacks at UVa fail to graduate within six years at more than twice the rate of whites.]

A similar event, Spring Fling, is held in April, which typically is larger and offers more social activities. Black Fraternal Council Co-Chair Jason Bell has attended this event multiple times and agreed that events like these are a positive resource for prospective students.

“It’s important to show prospective African-American students that this is a place they can thrive and enjoy their time,” he said. “It’s important to show a strong black population here.”

It thus appears that the good deans and the black student organizations are trying to persuade black prospectives and their parents that UVa is a fine place even as they are demanding more and more “diversity” initiatives to combat a pervasive culture of intolerance.

Go figure.

Say What? (1)

  1. defender November 13, 2007 at 9:33 pm | | Reply

    This last Saturday, we stopped by for a visit of UVA on our way back from a visit to Virginia Tech with our very qualified high school senior. We saw some posters welcoming “Fall Fling” participants, not knowing the actual purpose of the ‘fling’ (we did not get the invite). Then we saw that some diversity is more equal than other diversity in terms of skin color – my white male child doesn’t have a snowball’s chance of getting in to UVA – but then we would prefer that he attend a school that evaluates prospective students based on their proven academic ability and personal character rather than by the color of their skin. Kinda’ sounds like some famous speech doesn’t it?

    Then, there are the UVA sex tolerance politics to discuss as well…..

Say What?