Legal Commentary

Exploring The ?Depths Of Diversity? At Indiana State

The Indiana Statesman of Indiana State University had a remarkable article a few days about a public event featuring Sumita Furlong, currently the executive director of the president's office for diversity and global initiatives at the College of Charleston and a candidate for chief diversity officer at Indiana State.

There are many remarkable aspects of this article, but let me start with what I will select as the The Diversity Quote Of The Week (probably, indeed, of any week): ?diversity does not revolve around skin color,? Ms. Furlong told the assembly, ?it revolves globally.? Perhaps sensing that diversity revolving globally might not have been altogether clear, she continued:
?It is not about black, white and brown anymore,? she said. ?It is about students competing nationally [at the collegiate level].?
Even that apparently wasn?t enough. So:
She described overcoming diversity as a sun with many rays outstretched toward community. Each of the rays ranges from different socio-economically based standings, everything from race and religion to sexual preference.
I can see why this sort of diversity needs to be overcome. I?m actually overcome myself. Indiana State, however, seems to be a glutton for this sort of punishment. According to the article,
The position was created after splitting the Office of Affirmative Action and Diversity into two separate offices, said Teresa Exline, [a?] university spokesperson, [who?] is currently co-chairing the application process.

The new position is designed to help build relationships across the campus.

Exline said it is important for diversity to be tolerated at universities.

Furlong said she applied for the new position to help ISU build the foundation to overcome certain levels of diversity.
Ms. Furlong adds a whole new dimension to ?We Shall Overcome....?

Full post as published by Discriminations on March 01, 2009 (boomark / email).