Diversity course requirement discussion continues
The requirement could go into effect fall 2011 if approved.
Published March 9, 2010
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Chancellor Brady Deaton and Anne Deaton sign the unity sign Friday in the Gaines/Oldham Black Culture Center. A potential diversity course requirement would not affect incoming freshmen any earlier than fall 2011.
Crimes at the Black Culture Center renewed conversation about a general education diversity course requirement for MU students.
The diversity requirement was first discussed five years ago after results for the MU Campus Climate Study became available. Deputy Chancellor Michael Middleton set up a task force in fall 2009 to review the results of the study and to discuss the possibility of a diversity requirement.
Communication has improved after the crime involving the BCC occurred, Faculty Council Chairwoman Leona Rubin said.
"There are a lot people talking to each other now that did not talk to each other before," Rubin said. "Faculty Council has had this task force in place for almost a year and this is the first time most people have even asked about it."
The requirement would be a good way to teach students what it means to live in the U.S. during the 21st century, said Noor Azizan-Gardner, director for programming and professional development with the Chancellor's Diversity Initiative.
"The requirement will help students to be able to understand each other better, interact better and provide an inclusive climate for everyone," Azizan-Gardner said. "Most importantly (the requirement) will be able to create a learning community together."
BCC Director Nathan Stephens said the diversity requirement would enhance academic knowledge on campus and climate improvement would simply be a byproduct.
"Because we live in a diverse society, more students need to be aware of diversity in relation to academic disciplines," Stephens said.
A core requirement of the general education program is to teach students about the diverse human condition. The requirement would be related to this core goal, Rubin said.
"(The classes) would be taught in a way that would look at differences and teach students how evaluate differences and respect differences," Rubin said. "We want to teach students how to respect differences among people. (Students) are going to find differences throughout their entire life."
The diversity course would not be a general survey course of diversity but instead have the ability to link with a student's major. A student in the College of Business would possibly be able to satisfy the diversity requirement with a cultural or social marketing class.
"It is hard to imagine how a single course could possibly cover diversity," Rubin said. "(The course) just could not cover all the possible cultures, religions and social diversities with any kind of depth. What we are trying to identify are courses that already exist on campus that could be tweaked or already work really well as diversity intensive courses."
A budget for the requirement would possibly be set up to pay for faculty training, the addition of courses or to review courses already present, but no decisions have been made, Rubin said.
The requirement would go into effect no earlier than fall 2011.
Comments (9)
4 p.m., March 9, 2010
Brandon said:
If a "diversity" class is needed, shouldn't this crap have been done for students in MIDDLE SCHOOLS?? Students views are almost set in stone by the time they get to college, ya know, esp. on race and gender. Why should they be allowed to have their own views on all sorts of issues for the first 17/18 years, where, let's admit, the vast majority of young people are not racist or severe bigots, or at least try not to be, and then go to college to take soem stupid politically correct course telling them the "correct" way to think on these issues?? This is asinine! It's little more than PC college indoctrination. Who are you to tell students, most of which have very few bigoted views, if at all, that they're all just a bunch of closet bigots or are "insensitive" and need some very liberal political correct radical's 'teaching' to "become culturally competent"? Which professor is gonna run this thing, anyway? I'd really like to know, because chances are it'll be a very liberal one, perhaps even with a radical worldview most do not share and find abhorrent. Will this 'diversity' course be totally one-sided, or will there be intellectual diversity? Just the fact that this is a seriously-debated issue on campus shows that so many folks in leadership seem to care more about indoctrination than actual intellectual diversity and discussion and freethought. It's a real shame. Brady Deaton, like so many other big public college deans, is too political correct for Mizzou. If crap like this is gonna go down, just replace him.
4:05 p.m., March 9, 2010
Brandon said:
Who is anyone to tell someone else who tries all his/her life NOT to be racist or intolerant that, all of a sudden just because they're white or came from a middle or upper-class background, he/she is an ignoramus who can't see his "privilege" or "insensitivity"? Will this REALLY make America and the world better off?? I doubt it. It'll just be useless and they'll forget the info years down the road, like with most Democrats and economics. And what proof is there that teaching this 'course' will somehow make the campus "more inclusive" or make organizations like fraternies less "pro-white" and more "racially balanced"?? What evidence is there that a diversity course will make students all of a sudden hang out with peers of different ethnic or racial backgrounds at extraordinary rates? This is a CULTURAL issue, far bigger than one class at a university. Any cultural or social inequities or problems must be dealt with by society. A diversity course is just a bandaid.
9:21 p.m., March 9, 2010
Daniel said:
This is just rediculous. MU needs to spend money on salient courses. Even if this passes, who will take this course? I don't think we should fire Brady Deaton over this, but better solutions can be looked at. How about we have a diversity parade of ALL of the ethnic backgrounds that make MU great. We could have cookouts, food tasting, dancing, music festivals, etc. This course is just a slap in the face and is really sad.
9:29 a.m., March 10, 2010
timmy said:
I bet if someone threw potatoes on an Irish culture center (of course an irish culture center would be offensive to everyone)or if someone threw a bunch of polo t-shirts and Dave Matthews CDs on the lawn of some Frat, or put pork products outside MUPD it would be looked at as if it was just some goofballs having fun .. and if you dont get the Irish potato reference look it up.
9:50 p.m., March 11, 2010
Pooper said:
Cool, Does this mean that some black kids will have to take classess designed by the White Cultural Center? I mean, what a great way to understand them better....
11:43 p.m., March 11, 2010
Sickandtired said:
Comparing Polo shirts and dave matthews cd's is not the same as cotton balls. Saying that implies that cotton is somehow representative of black people. Last time I checked, SLAVERY, was not what represented the culture of African-Americans. If when you think of black people you think of slaves...you are the students that need the diversity course the most. The cotton represents the most horrible part of african-american history. Had they thrown something stereotypical, such as....oh i don't know, Fried Chicken, Watermelon, something like that, then you could make the comparison of polo shirts or pork products. I would hope that you don't think of "Slave" as a stereotype of black people. The situations that timmy referred to are NOT of equal offense. Maybe if you took a diversity course you'd understand why you're views are so skewed, and so wrong.
12:34 p.m., March 12, 2010
timmy said:
Dear sick and tired you need learn to lighten up first of all obviously the Sean kid was dragged in to the whole thing by the other kid you can tell from the mug shoots secondly it was most likly a prank a satirical act personifying the double standard in this country .
12:39 p.m., March 12, 2010
Timmy said:
O and sick and tired i noticed you didnt address the potatoes and Irish reference . Nevermind you prob never heard of the potato famines thats ok double standard and such .. o and one more thing my fiancé is from Côte d'Ivoire so you can just shut up about me needing diversity training
1:20 a.m., March 9, 2010
Ambivelent said:
Speaking from a partial minority position here (despite being white and male), I don't believe this is right in principle. I'm not okay with money (from students and families) going towards courses into which students, regardless of their moral foundation, are given moral paradigms regarding diversity outside of which one may fall threat to being called "ignorant", "homophobic", etc. People are (believe it or not) allowed to believe homosexuality is immoral (fundamentally), people are allowed to hold qualms about different religions, etc. Are they allowed to actively discriminate? No. But I don't feel comfortable with them being given one sole viewpoint of diversity that takes acceptance as a self-evident factor.