University Chief Diversity Officer William Harvey presented his first public address to the University yesterday afternoon, highlighting the need for sustained efforts toward increased racial tolerance and diversity nationwide, In his address, entitled "Issues of Race at Predominantly White Institutions," Harvey noted that many of the racial issues he has studied throughout his professional career have yet to be adequately remedied, both at the University and nationwide.
Harvey's address focused on the themes of affirmative action, diversity within curricula and the need for both students and faculty to take action.
Institutional policies of affirmative action for faculty hiring have proven controversial and extraordinarily ineffective across the country, Harvey said. Such policies have failed primarily due to a lack of commitment from campus leaders, he added.
Harvey noted that the number of African-American faculty members in higher education institutions has risen only one percent to 5.4 percent in the past 25 years. The number of Hispanic faculty has nearly doubled during the same period to three percent. Harvey noted that continued growth of these numbers is essential.
After Harvey's speech, Maria Chee, assistant to the vice provost for faculty advancement, spoke and expressed concern that Asians are underrepresented among university administrators. Chee noted that at the University only one top administrator is Asian.
The presence of minority faculty and administrators can provide both "tangible evidence" of minority success to white students as well as valuable role models for minority students, Harvey explained.
"We have to demonstrate that this is an environment that reflects different groups that are part of our nation," Harvey said.
Harvey also said that faculty must understand the importance of developing curricula which do not minimize the historical and contemporary contributions of minorities to society.
"Students have been taught that non-whites have contributed little or nothing [to American history]," Harvey said.
According to Harvey, change must begin within the administration and senior faculty members.
"The best thing I can do is to find and involve key senior faculty in understanding how important it is to make curricular changes," Harvey said.
Harvey said that faculty members must diversify their selection of new staff and faculty members.
"The people doing the hiring have felt more comfortable with people of the same background," Harvey said.
Students also often tend to "self-segregate" in order to try to "protect themselves," but this proves to be counterproductive, said University archivist Ervin L. Jordan after Harvey's speech.
Harvey and Jordan both agreed that students can play an important role in creating a more racially tolerant academic environment.
"Students must take it upon themselves to police their fellow students," Harvey said.
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