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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]To the W&L critic upthread, many of those criticisms are valid. But you’re mistaken that the school doesn’t care. They are devoting a lot of energy and dollars to improving on their tragic diversity record. This president cares. The new Dean of Diversity, Inclusion, and Student Engagement is but one of many promising initiatives. I suspect it is a real challenge recruiting people of color to a small, isolated town in the south bearing a confederate name, but they are managing to grow the population of minority students, if too slowly.

The Lee legacy will be harder to grapple with as it’s very much part of their identity. Lots of stubborn old coots who don’t get it, and lots of donors threatening to cut ties if they dare touch the name. Many have already written them off for the (overdue) changes they’ve made, such as removing slaveholder names from buildings, isolating the recumbent Lee statue from view within the chapel, removing all images of him in uniform, etc. But the name is a tough nut to crack. He saved the place. I’m an alum and I hope they remove it. I said as much in the gigantic survey that was sent to alums. But I’d be surprised if it happens. Ask yourself why Yale keeps its name despite the horrorshow of that namesake. I was hesitant about my daughter applying there so she wouldn’t have to deal with the mess. [/quote]

I do think that the W&L administration is trying.  My child  attended a "diversity weekend" recruitment event within the last couple of years.  My child loved meeting all of the bright, eager recruits who came to visit, including many Questbridge scholars.  Many of them preferred to attend anywhere besides W&L.  One current student of color actually warned the recruits not to enroll.[/quote]

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