Deaton gives update on diversity at MU

Recent diversity initiatives were highlighted by the panel.

By Jimmy Hibsch

Published Oct. 22, 2010

Chief Diversity Officer Roger Worthington began the second MizzouDiversity Summit on Wednesday evening by saying he is not only incredibly proud of, but also somewhat astonished by the amount of progress MU has made in the area of diversity over the past two years.

“To some degree, it’s almost overwhelming to know that there is so much engagement on this campus around diversity issues, and that people are really truly committed to these issues,” Worthington said. “Mizzou belongs to all of us. We are Mizzou.”

Worthington then handed the microphone to Chancellor Brady Deaton, who discussed diversity issues on MU’s campus. To an audience of around 250, Deaton admitted to MU’s checkered history concerning diversity. Specifically, he said the university denied its first black applicant, spurring a legal battle. This was one of several legalities, he said.

“We’re not responsible, certainly, for all the sins of the past that have occurred,” he said. “But that doesn’t mean in any way that we either excuse or falter in the vigilance we exercise as we seek to identify ways in which we can move forward.”

Deaton also said this progress is undoubtedly taking place. He offered examples such as this year’s freshman minority enrollment and ethnically diverse faculty increases, the creation of specific disability student organizations and the inclusion of gender-neutral bathrooms in all future construction projects to ascertain his presumption.

“We want to call attention to those values that we hold dear and talk about a lot: respect, responsibility, discovery and excellence,” he said. “We want to continue to challenge ourselves to use those values in action and to ensure that as we look at the progress we’ve made, that you can see that we can continue to move forward as we move to the next report.”

He said he hoped several continuing challenges would be explored in the following day’s workshops, ranging from domestic partner benefits for faculty to a diversity course requirement.

“You may not see the end result that you want to see in your lifetime,” Deaton said. “But I do believe you can help make enormous progress that you’ll be very proud of and will certainly approve for the credit that we as a university want to earn as we work with you to strengthen the fabric of our society in this regard.”

The panel, consisting of 12 of MU’s highest administrators, is one method to open dialogue about diversity issues, Deaton said. He encouraged the members of the audience to be open-minded and to reach out of their immediate social circle.

“We can point to an unrealized potential — how far we have yet to go,” Deaton said. “We can set our sights at a higher level, and we can help each other and enrich the campus environment so we can indeed achieve those goals that are so important to us.”

The floor was then opened for the audience to question the panel. Questions were raised pertaining to the prospect of the black studies program becoming an official major and Residential Life providing gender-neutral housing, as just two examples. On most occasions, panelists said although many topics have not been under discussion as of yet, everything discussed at the meeting will be taken into account.

Graduate student David Aguayo asked the panel for its stance on the Dream Act, a proposed bill aimed to aid undocumented immigrants who pursue college degrees.

“I’m one of those immigrants, and as you can see, I’m a master’s student finishing up and I’m here to stay,” he said. “The United States and Mizzou have been my home.”

Following the questions, Worthington readdressed the members of the audience to again thank them for their support of MU’s diversity initiatives and to express his excitement for the remainder of the summit.