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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Example: diversity is a great thing - I am supportive. But when schools like Michigan go overboard and require diversity statements for everyone applying for a job, and have grossly bloated DEI infrastructures that cost millions and are more divisive then helpful, casting all white people as the enemy, it is going overboard. Personally, I don't think this merits supporting a crazy man like Trump, but for some people, this was a bridge too far and pushed them over the edge. I know those people because despite living in a very blue area, I try to understand what makes other people tick. You likely live in a very blue echo chamber and don't get it.

I am a lot closer to you than more than 50% of America. I despise Trump. But I am also a realist. And I also want to beat Trump in 2028 (if there is an election then, and yes, he will be running). So be more careful about picking your spots.

I don't appreciate the childish bullying comment. So much more to say but I will take the high road.[/quote]

Blaming a DMV mom and Oberlin parent (and VA public college parent of a different kid a Fed coping with Elon a and community volunteer and so much else) for Trump, and not, your know, Trump voters? Not the high road you think it is. [/quote]

You’ve clearly never read or written a diversity statement and don’t have a sense of what universities are actually requiring/expecting. I’ve sat on many hiring committees for faculty and postdoc  roles, and people don’t rant about how terrible white people are. Some focus on how they structure teaching to accommodate students with different learning styles. Some talk about volunteering at camps or doing youth engagement with underserved communities (which also included rural and low income white kids). Some have worked with library staff to expand multilingual collections of books and archives. Or advocated for more affordable childcare or other support on campus for student parents. Faculty who provide expert testimony in asylum cases sometimes include that in the diversity statements too. The diversity statements are just a way to demonstrate how, in your own way, you have and will work to expand the range of perspectives and maximize opportunities for as many students as possible. If you’re serious about debate you should probably understand what the statements are actually about. For most candidates, the statement is a way of highlighting aspects of public engagement, advising, impact, etc. that doesn’t fit into the research and teaching statement. FWIW I’m not a fan of the mandatory diversity statements for all positions, but they have a place in some cases. [/quote]

I know very well what a diversity statement is. It is all in semantics. Different schools can use it different ways. Some are using it as you stated, to demonstrate teaching skills. Others are using it to weed out political philosophy and for extreme virtue signaling.

It is tone deaf in this day and age to have something like this that is applied universally. As with so many things these days, it is taking something where intentions might have been good and is often used appropriately and taking it to extremes.

Read the NYT article from a few weeks ago about DEI at Michigan. It was craziness. And again, I am someone who is a Democrat who is more supportive of DEI than most of America. So if I think it is nuts, guess what they think? I'm not saying we should constantly be rolling over and giving them what they want - that is an awful idea. Especially because they are highly unlikely to reciprocate. But we should occasionally moderate our more extreme tendencies on certain things where it won't kill us to do so.[/quote]

Then why use Michigans DEI statements to blame Oberlin for what shows up on Fox News?  Have Oberlin’s DEI faculty hire requirements been a culture war flashpoint?  Been shown to be absolutely outrageous?  If this is something that can be used appropriately, and no one is pointing to evidence that Oberlin didn’t apply it moderately, why are you dunking on Oberlin parents and kids over this issue? [/quote]

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