UVA Names New Interim “Diversity” Dean

The University of Virginia has named a new interim Dean of African-American Affairs to replace former dean of all things black, M. Rick Turner, who resigned under a cloud arising from his lying to federal investigators about his knowledge of a “known drug dealer.” (See here and here.)

The new dean, Maurice Appleby, is a professor of psychiatric medicine and former dean of diversity at the medical school. He seems to be a fine choice.

Still, the article about his appointment and various comments quoted in it reveal how “diversity” and “black” have become virtually interchangeable, at least when their identity is convenient.

Thus Dean Apprey announced that “[d]iversity is the first and most important goal, and former dean M. Rick (turns out his name is Maurice, which is probably why he uses M. Rick) Turner

stated that he has no doubts that Apprey will press forward with the Office of African-American Affair’s mission to promote diversity at the University.

“I think the major thing is that he’ll be a major voice for African-American students in the community and at the University,” he said.

Note the equivalence of “diversity” with “African-American,” as though no students of other racial or ethnic identities (not to mention religious or political persuasions) contribute anything to the diversity of the university community.

University Vice President for Student Affairs Pat Lamkin

said she considered four factors while selecting the interim dean, including a good knowledge of the University and its history, support of University students and parents, strong academic credentials and an understanding of the Charlottesville community.

“I really want to move through this time and keeping the continuity going,” she said. “The most important thing is not to disrupt the services to our students.”

The “four factors” seem “diversity”-neutral, and it’s not clear what “services” to African-American students promote University-wide “diversity.” Do African-American students need “services” not needed by other students? If so, what are they? If not, why do they need their own dean to provide them?

According to this article, “[i]n the last five years, no fewer than 30 institutions have created” chief diversity officer positions.

The emergence of these offices in higher education is not without historical precedence, as some institutions had “vice president for minority affairs” roles in the 1970s, when the first large group of African Americans enrolled at what were nearly all-white colleges and universities.

Not surprisingly, now there is an organization “by diversity officers for diversity officers,” mainly, it would appear, from corporations. There is no doubt a similar one, or several similar ones, for university diversity officers.

It would be interesting, and revealing, to know how “diverse” is the membership of these organizations.

Say What? (4)

  1. superdestroyer August 3, 2006 at 2:44 pm | | Reply

    Two questions:

    1. If a state sanctioned and funded institution needs an Office of African-Amercan Affairs, then why doesn’t it have an office of Asian-American Affairs, or an Office of Hispanic-American Affairs, or an Office of Women’s Affairs, or maybe even an Office of European-American Affairs. My guess is that the office has nothing to do with creating diversity and everything to creating separate and unequal programs meant only for black students.

    2. If diversity is really important for state funded institutions, why don’t Norfolk State University or Virginia State Universities have an Office of White Student Affairs that would in charge of creating diversity all the two public HBCU’s in Virginia? Once again, my guess is that the black administrators at the HBCU do not really believe that diversity adds anything to an educational experience and are happy having a schools just for blacks.

  2. David Nieporent August 3, 2006 at 8:06 pm | | Reply

    It would be interesting, and revealing, to know how “diverse” is the membership of these organizations.

    I’ll bet it has both black men and black women in it.

  3. Hube August 3, 2006 at 9:48 pm | | Reply

    John, I think you have an error in the 1st paragraph: M. Rick Carter.

  4. John Rosenberg August 4, 2006 at 8:00 am | | Reply

    Right. “Carter” (don’t know who typed that) corrected to “Turner.” Thanks.

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