EDITORIAL: Real Diversity

The decision to move theThe decision to move theWomen's Center to a newThe decision to move theWomen's Center to a newlocation is long overdue,The decision to move theWomen's Center to a newlocation is long overdue,but now comes the time toThe decision to move theWomen's Center to a newlocation is long overdue,but now comes the time tolook aheadThe decision to move theWomen's Center to a newlocation is long overdue,but now comes the time tolook ahead___________________________ To many women and minorities the walk seemed to be little more than a hulking white, upper-class male monolith, populated with elitist fraternities. It all came to a head in 1990, when then President Sheldon Hackney created the Committee to Diversify Locust Walk. The idea was to promote the presence on Locust Walk of establishments that would cater to everyone, thus helping to "diversify" the heart of campus. Fast forward to 1994. The administration decides to fill the top floor of 3643 Locust Walk (site of one of two fraternities since expelled from the Walk) with the Women's Center. The Women's Center offered counseling and advising for women and support groups for minority women, lesbians and bisexuals -- all highly commendable endeavours. Ellie DiLapi, director of the Women's Center, hails the move as "another concrete step the administration is taking to diversify Locust Walk." Having said that, we are happy that action is finally being taken and are relieved the administration did not decide to locate a sorority at 3643, as many had suggested. A sorority would have been even more exclusive than a Women's Center, discriminating on a variety of factors other than sex. But, the next step involves going beyond a Women's Center to fill the rest of 3643 with something which caters to the entire student body. For example, moving the Tutoring Center, College Advising, or Residential Living offices, or establishing a coffee shop where students could meet and socialize (along the lines of the Commission on Strengthening the Community's recommendation) are ways of offering services everyone can benefit from. While a more spacious and accessible Women's Center is sorely needed on this campus, it does not cater to men -- 57% of students. We believe that diversifying Locust Walk means providing a series of services and institutions in which every student feels comfortable -- not a bunch of organizations aimed exclusively at particular interest groups. On the other hand, the administration addressed one of the most pressing needs facing this University by moving the Women's Center to 3643 Locust. Now, however, we need to focus on adding real diversity.