The Daily Pennsylvanian met with panel moderator Henry Louis Gates Jr. to discuss "Making the Most of Our Cultural Differences." Gates is the W.E.B. DuBois professor of the Humanities at Harvard University and chairman of Afro-American Studies, as well as director of Harvard's W.E.B. DuBois Institute for Afro-American Research.
DP: As the leader of the panel, what was your personal objective? HG: My personal objective was to introduce the subject of multiculturalism and cultural diversity with excellence ... from both the liberal point of view and the more conservative point of view. ... There are lots of people who would be delighted about the presence of more people of color and the teaching of cultural diversity in their classes, and there are lots of people, quite frankly, who won't, and that will lead itself to more dialogue, shall we say, on campus.
DP: How does the topic of cultural difference relate to President Gutmann's vision for the University?
HG: It was featured prominently in her speech. I've never heard an inaugural speech from a president that was really structured around the notion of cultural difference and how a university should be addressing that fundamentally and be a model for the creation of a harmonious community. ... I thought it was inspiring.
DP: What concrete steps can be taken by the University administration in order to realize the president's vision? HG: ... Stepping outside of our racial, cultural, geographic or religious identities is fundamental to a sophisticated college experience, and there are structural ways to encourage that, like creating the widest range of diversity in room assignments for freshmen and encouraging, let's say, black students not only to join the black student organizations but other, non-racial organizations as well. ...
DP: How can University community members be proactive in addressing some of the issues brought up in the panel?
HG: ... Well, I think the most important thing for professors is to encourage a multiplicity of identities ... so that there's not one way to be black or white, or gay or straight, or Jewish or Christian, and that becomes the norm of the University.
