Faculty divided over Rodin's minority plan

Some argue the 5-part plan wrongly turns individuals into 'carriers of a group identity' While most faculty members say they are pleased with the theory behind University President Judith Rodin's minority permanence plan, some have begun to point fingers at specific pieces of the proposal. Still other professors have attacked the plan's objectives, saying it will not improve diversity on campus. Earlier this week, Rodin announced her four-point program to increase the University's minority faculty and student presence with added funds, research and assistance. "That is the very opposite of creating a diverse university," History Professor Alan Kors said. "If this is money earmarked for Hispanics and African Americans, it discriminates against Jews, Italians, Catholics and Muslims," he added, mentioning nearly 10 groups not targeted by the plan. Kors criticized Rodin's agenda, challenging her to choose University applicants on merit without regard to race. "If you really want to make a University welcoming to all potential students and faculty, make it a University that values them as individuals, not as carriers of a group identity," Kors said. Political Science Professor Henry Teune said while it is "fine" that Rodin aims to increase the University's minority population, her plan is no different from past efforts. According to History Professor Mary Frances Berry, some previous plans have lost momentum when initial funds ran out. But Teune said he would be shocked if Rodin did not meet her monetary goals on the minority permanence proposal, because the University's philanthropists give heartily. "The University has a tremendous [cash] flow coming in," Teune said. "And accounting is a creative activity." Berry said some alumni may not really believe in the plan's objectives, but will give money to the program to improve the University's reputation. She added that any funds will help the plan's success. According to Kors, though, "throwing money at things" is not sufficient, especially in order "to define people as groups rather than as their own lives and own visions." Though Berry expressed her support for Rodin's minority permanence campaign, she said the program can only work with great care and focus, going beyond the establishment of preliminary financing. "I think that people with ideas as well as money should contribute," Berry said. According to Teune, the University's applicant pool of competitive minorities is limited, even if the Admissions Office pays increased attention to them. "We have to compete with Harvard and Princeton," Teune said, "But all you can do is jack up scholarships." Kors said the emphasis on racial diversity itself is a problem, because the administration is overlooking the diversity of ideas, personalities and political beliefs. "When the University says 'diversity' it doesn't mean that," he added. "Race is merely one superficial characteristic." He called the University's commitment to diversity "false advertising." "The last time I looked, false advertising was a crime," Kors said.