Diversity? Of course we know our history!
by AnonTerp on Oct.07, 2009, under Leadership, Policy
Hard on the heels of the Diamondback news of a big drop in minority admissions this fall, the crack leadership team in Main Admin has swung into action. Today Millree Williams, Senior Director, Public Affairs Strategy, announces an event for this Friday, to commemorate our black history at Maryland:
Last fall, the University of Maryland, College Park asked students to assemble a group to further explore the University of Maryland’s connection to the institution of slavery. Over two semesters, the students of History 429, led by Ira Berlin, Distinguished University Professor of History, explored this relationship to determine what else could be added to our body of knowledge on the subject. Completed last spring, that research was compiled in a report, Knowing Our History: African American Slavery and the University of Maryland.
On the occasion of the 40th Anniversary of the African American Studies Program, the students of History 429 (Knowing Our History) cordially invite you to attend a brief presentation of those findings, on Friday, October 9, 2009, at 1:00, p.m., in the David C. Driskell Center for the Study of the Visual Arts and Culture of African Americans and the African Diaspora.
Translation: “We didn’t actually know there was a huge drop in black admits this fall until the student newspaper pointed it out, but now we will show how much we really care, by ramping up advertising of the African American Studies anniversary reception and being sure to talk a lot about the history of slavery.”
Yeah. That’ll sure show how much we care!
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
October 7th, 2009 on 6:10 pm
Yesterday officials said they would ramp up efforts to recruit high achieving minority students. Today they announce a class on the history of slavery. Aren’t these stereotypes a bit old millenium?
Instead of trying to attract applicants who identify with a history of oppression by reinforcing how they are victims of history, maybe we could attract young scholars who want to identify with being smart, no matter what color is their skin.
October 7th, 2009 on 8:15 pm
the farce will only be complete when they parade out a black representative of the administration to announce new spending on diversity (never mind a budget crisis), with a concerned quote from the provost assuring us how some of his best friends are black.