UConn Hires Chief Diversity Officer | The Boneyard

UConn Hires Chief Diversity Officer

Drew

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http://www.courant.com/education/hc-diversity-uconn-1119-20151118-story.html

As part of an effort to improve UConn's diversity on campus, particularly among faculty and staff, the university said Wednesday that it plans to hire a chief diversity officer.

President Susan Herbst told the board of trustees that the university has made "great strides with regard to our undergraduate population," with minority students accounting for about a third of incoming freshmen classes in recent years.

"Diversity among our faculty and staff does not come close to these undergraduate figures," Herbst said. "And it must."
 
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My business school teachers in the OPIM department when I went were Chinese and Indian. 20 years ago.
 

pnow15

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http://www.courant.com/education/hc-diversity-uconn-1119-20151118-story.html

As part of an effort to improve UConn's diversity on campus, particularly among faculty and staff, the university said Wednesday that it plans to hire a chief diversity officer.

President Susan Herbst told the board of trustees that the university has made "great strides with regard to our undergraduate population," with minority students accounting for about a third of incoming freshmen classes in recent years.

"Diversity among our faculty and staff does not come close to these undergraduate figures," Herbst said. "And it must."
And here all along I thought UConn wanted the smartest students.
So what Herbst is really saying the she is systematically discriminating against one sector of the population over another, that race is being placed ahead of qualification.
In other words she is punishing white students for being white and white professors for being white. And just how does this help race relations?
 

8893

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So what Herbst is really saying the she is systematically discriminating against one sector of the population over another, that race is being placed ahead of qualification.
In other words she is punishing white students for being white and white professors for being white. And just how does this help race relations?
Where does it say that, Grand Wizard?
 

pnow15

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Where does it say that, Grand Wizard?
So, then it is your belief that the Diversity Chief is there to make sure the only the best and the brightest are hired? If the intent was to hire only the best and the brightest, why would you need to hire a Diversity Chief? Academic records, prior experience, and objective test scores should be the guide, not the color of one's skin, not one's religion, not one's political leanings. Can the person teach at this level? Is this person capable of extraordinary research? This should be the criteria, not quotas.
The fact is that there is almost no diversity of thought on campuses today.
Are you saying that the Diversity Chief will now only hire conservatives until diversity of thought is achieved?
 

temery

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http://www.courant.com/education/hc-diversity-uconn-1119-20151118-story.html

As part of an effort to improve UConn's diversity on campus, particularly among faculty and staff, the university said Wednesday that it plans to hire a chief diversity officer.

President Susan Herbst told the board of trustees that the university has made "great strides with regard to our undergraduate population," with minority students accounting for about a third of incoming freshmen classes in recent years.

"Diversity among our faculty and staff does not come close to these undergraduate figures," Herbst said. "And it must."

All employers, especially schools, should make every effort to recruit minorities, then hire the best candidate, regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, etc.
 
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What is most frustrating to me is that it appears these diversity initiatives are more about increasing image than increasing actual tangible benefit to the UConn community. There is so much talk about increased diversity numbers and virtually no talk about actual impact on the UConn community. Demonstrating that the underrepresented groups are actually teaching something to the over represented groups would be great to see in an article or speech much more often than throwing out numbers. For example, the UConn community would not benefit from twice as many Chinese students on campus if those Chinese students mostly spend time with just other Chinese students.

The underlying issue is that hiring or admissions is basically a zero sum game. If certain people are prioritized, then that means who ever isn't being prioritized is being discriminated against. This may or may not be the case in regards to this exact situation. However, there is no question that it is happening in some circumstances at institutions. For example, athletes being given priority over non athletes. Athletes at Harvard have an SAT score that is approximately 200 points below the average for the university. Since athletes are being admitted with significantly substandard academics that means more deserving students are being rejected. Another example is in regards to the admissions process for most MBA programs. White, Indian, and Chinese men are discriminated against in the admissions process because women and all men besides the previously mentioned groups are given priority for scholarships and admission.
I have no problem prioritizing based on economic disadvantage, but any prioritization based on race, gender, etc. for the simple sake of saying these people will bring diversity of thinking is ludicrous. Some people from under represented groups by race or gender bring significant diversity of thinking while others do not. Some people from over represented groups by race or gender bring significant diversity of thinking while others do not. Every case is independent regardless of genetic factors like color of skin, race, sexual orientation etc.
 

Drew

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Letter to the Editor: UConn’s Chief Diversity Officer is unfit for the position

In the height of racial and gender bias incidents at UConn in 2014, including a racially charged incident involving members of Greek Life, in - the “rock” incident and not one but two bias incidents in the Student Union Gallery, President Susan Herbst tasked the Vice Provost to chair and establish the Diversity Task force asking them to make recommendations to the University administration as how to promote diversity and inclusion on campus. One of the recommendations was to hire a Chief Diversity Officer (CDO), and Joelle A. Murchison came on board in July 2016. Although the Diversity Task Force never recommended the Chief Diversity Officer oversee the Cultural Centers, the decision to have Joelle oversee the Cultural Centers on Campus was made.

Since her appointment, there has been an overall lack of transparent communication from the Chief Diversity Officer’s (CDO) office to students and staff, causing major discrepancies on issues regarding Homecoming. Homecoming is a week long, campus-wide event that is meant to bring the UConn community together and excited for the Homecoming Football game. On February 16, 2017 at a meeting with all five of the cultural center directors, Murchison gave a directive stating that the Cultural Centers are barred from participating in any Homecoming activities, in addition to not being able to receive any funding for activities related to the event.

On April 7th, Murchison attended the staff meeting at Puerto Rican Latin American Cultural Center, which was scheduled a few months in advance as she had been meeting with staff of other Cultural Centers upon her arrival. There were two professional staff, three graduate student staff, and 16 undergraduate student-staff present at this meeting with Murchison. Since the news of the Cultural Centers, as administrative units, being barred from participating in Homecoming had been previously announced to the cultural center staffs, it was natural for the student-staff to ask Murchison clarifying questions in that regard. In contestation, Murchison argued that she did not bar funding for Homecoming for the Cultural Centers, but that students would be able to participate as organizations or councils without using the Cultural Center names.

During the staff meeting, Murchison engaged in multiple accounts of uncivil behavior as she dismissed student voices and experiences, talked down to the staff and yelled over students expressing their concerns. She interrupted students on multiple occasions in a condescending tone while pointing fingers at the rest of the staff, calling them disrespectful. In one incident, she completely stopped a student from speaking by yelling over them and told them to “grow up”. As the conversation continued, it was apparent that Murchison was not concerned with the student’s experiences. When another student asked her why they did not seek student input in making a decision that directly impacts them, she yelled. “Sweetheart, students do not always have a say in administrative decisions here”, as she leaned over the table and finger pointed at that student and then to the rest of the students.
 

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