EDITORIAL: The price of permanence

The effort to increase theThe effort to increase thepresence of minorities onThe effort to increase thepresence of minorities oncampus has poetential, but notThe effort to increase thepresence of minorities oncampus has poetential, but notenough immedfiate direction.The effort to increase thepresence of minorities oncampus has poetential, but notenough immedfiate direction.__________________________________ While the goals of Rodin's new plan are admirable, her strategy -- or the lack thereof -- for its implementation is not. Anita Jenious, executive director of affirmative action, said it best when she remarked that the University needs to clarify its goals regarding minority permanence. Merely making more money available for the recruitment and retention of minority students and faculty members will not result in increased diversity on campus. And regardless of the priority administrators place on achieving true multiculturalism here, it won't happen overnight. Appropriating $10 million to hire minority professors and attract minority students, through at-large allocations from the University budget and matching dollars from specific schools, is a good idea. Creating a $20 million endowment to ensure that Penn's commitment to minorities in academe extends beyond Rodin's term also makes sense. But one of the other provisions in Rodin's plan is the appointment of a special advisor for diversity programs and issues; Jenious already occupies that role. Using a $250,000 grant to study the educational benefits of diversity on a college campus is also completely ridiculous. Diversity is clearly a worthwhile goal, and that's why Rodin wants to raise multiple millions for it. No outside firm needs to verify the importance of this project with surveys and thick reports. As it stands, Rodin's plan reeks of tokenism and is unfair to sectors of the University that also desperately need infusions of cash, such as the School of Arts and Sciences. It has potential, but before it gets the green light, it needs additional structure and a clearer statement of its underlying philosophy, guiding principles and ultimate goals.