April 08, 2014<\/p>\n
The Daily Cardinal<\/a><\/p>\n The recently approved Regent Policy Document 14-6, \u201cDiscrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation,\u201d raises troubling questions as UW-Madison formulates its new minority plan, \u201cForward Together: UW Madison\u2019s Framework for Diversity and Exclusive Excellence.\u201d<\/p>\n The focus of 14-6 on individual discriminatory behavior ignores institutional discriminatory behavior, what is often called \u201cinstitutional racism.\u201d Here are some examples;<\/p>\n Shouldn\u2019t continued use of the label \u201ctargeted\u201d minority students be viewed in the language of this new policy as a form of either \u201cDiscrimination\u201d or \u201cDiscriminatory Harassment,\u201d or perhaps both?<\/p>\n Does labeling minority students as \u201ctargeted\u201d interfere with their \u201cacademic environment\u201d and \u201ccreate . . . a learning . . . environment that a reasonable person would find intimidating\u201d?<\/p>\n Is the labeling of \u201ctargeted\u201d minority students consistent with the UW System goal of \u201cfostering an environment of respect for the dignity and worth of all members of the university\u201d?<\/p>\n This widely used \u201ctargeted\u201d label highlights the fact that some fraction\u2014as many as a quarter\u2014of \u201ctargeted\u201d minority students\u2014African American, American Indian, Hispanic\/Latino, and Southeast Asian\u2014are regularly admitted under UW-Madison\u2019s \u201cselective\u201d or \u201cholistic\u201d rather than the \u201ccompetitive\u201d admission standard applied to most applicants.<\/p>\n The \u201ctargeted\u201d label applied to minority students, both as individuals and members of their respective racial, ethnic, and national origin groups, indicates they are viewed by the campus administration as somehow \u201cdifferent\u201d from the rest of the student body rather than as the individual students they are.<\/p>\n The numerous Minority and Disadvantaged Student programs\u2014 approximately 60 of them here at UW-Madison\u2014designed primarily to accommodate the \u201cselectively\u201d admitted \u201ctargeted\u201d minority students send a signal to the entire student body, that these students require special academic and other help not available to non-targeted students.<\/p>\n Finally, the \u201ctargeted\u201d label carries unfortunate connotations that have no justification in the lexicon of campus mission statements, strategic plans, diversity \u201cframeworks,\u201d and the like.<\/p>\n What can be done to reshape our collective thinking on diversity? Unfortunately, diversity is an article of faith among top System officials and UW-Madison campus leaders. As a condition of their appointment, they are required to demonstrate a \u201cpersonal commitment to issues of diversity and inclusion\u201d Is such a test appropriate to the central mission of the university?<\/p>\n The obvious solution for the University of Wisconsin is to reaffirm the traditional concept of academic excellence in all aspects of campus life. This can be accomplished by treating all applicants in the same way, admitting them on the basis of an admission standard in which race, ethnicity, and national origin play no role.<\/p>\n It also means eliminating the double standard. Discrimination and harassment by students and staff is prohibited. Yet institutional racism continues. It does so because the UW System ignores its own prohibition against discrimination. This is exemplified by the way it labels \u201ctargeted\u201d minority students, the very students it seeks to help.<\/p>\n Simply acknowledging that the University of Wisconsin practices the very discriminatory behavior it prohibits students and staff from engaging in will be a real test of character for the Regents, UW System officials, and UW-Madison campus leaders.<\/p>\n Even more difficult will be eliminating its racist behavior. Doing so will require the kind of courage few university leaders possess, here or elsewhere across the nation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" April 08, 2014 The Daily Cardinal The recently approved Regent Policy Document 14-6, \u201cDiscrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation,\u201d raises troubling questions as UW-Madison formulates its new minority plan, \u201cForward Together: UW Madison\u2019s Framework for Diversity and Exclusive Excellence.\u201d The focus of … Continue reading