Diversity Too Far

What does "diversity" mean on campus today?

Student reaction to the University of Virginia's announcement of J. Harvie Wilkinson III, a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit, as its commencement speaker this year has thrust this question into the spotlight. Some U-Va. students have launched an effort to challenge the selection of Wilkinson in the name of protecting "diversity," complete with columns, an online petition drive and hints that they will disrupt graduation.

This growing effort shows that too often, diversity is absent from the one facet of campus life where it is essential: intellectual life.

Supporters purport to use "diversity" synonymously with open-mindedness; they argue for the U-Va. administration to hire a "dean for diversity," for the faculty to offer a wider variety of classes and for students to sign a "diversity pledge." They sing the virtues of learning about people from different places with different points of view. Yet, when it comes to listening to someone with a reputation for being politically conservative, that supposed open-mindedness quickly dissipates.

Because some students disagree with a few of Wilkinson's opinions, they are quick to claim that his opinions are "discriminatory" and illustrate "blatant political bias." A student columnist described one "problem" with his selection: "It is that his political biases will alienate a large number of students when a commencement speaker should bring students together." Others justify their complaints with the need to "protect diversity," claiming that inviting Wilkinson is against U-Va.'s "long-standing commitment to diversity." But where is their support for diversity when it comes to a more politically conservative public figure?

These students argue that because some of Wilkinson's rulings are disagreeable to them, he is offensive. Their message is: If you disagree with someone on a few issues, that person is automatically offensive, discriminatory and alienating -- and therefore, should have no place on campus. This is the opposite of true intellectual diversity.

Some of the students supporting this effort are hiding behind process arguments, claiming that students should have a bigger role in the selection of the commencement speaker. Currently, a committee of students and faculty members gives the university president a list of 10 speakers, from which he invites one. This process has been in place for years. No one complained about the selection process when author John Grisham, a well-known high-dollar Democratic fundraiser, was selected, or even after his speech, in which he hit on hot-button political issues such as the Vietnam War and global warming.

That a conservative judge does not fit within the definition of diversity on campus reveals how far we have to go to achieve diversity in the academy. Unfortunately, we have settled for descriptive diversity, such as race and sex, rather than reaching for intellectual diversity.

I hope that Judge Wilkinson takes the opportunity to address diversity in his commencement speech. This would help complete our education.

From 'Diversity' in Name Only at U-Va. by Karin Agness, April 5, 2009.

The writer is a law student at the University of Virginia and founder and president of the Network of Enlightened Women, a national organization for conservative college women.

Sir Charles Speaks

"The Age of Obama begins with perhaps the greatest frenzy of old-politics influence peddling ever seen in Washington . . After Obama's miraculous 2008 presidential campaign, it was clear that at some point the magical mystery tour would have to end. The nation would rub its eyes and begin to emerge from its reverie. The hallucinatory Obama would give way to the mere mortal. The great ethical transformations promised would be seen as a fairy tale that all presidents tell--and that this president told better than anyone. I thought the awakening would take six months. It took two and a half weeks."

From "The Fierce Urgency of Pork" by Charles Krauthammer, February 6, 2009.

'Specific Star Signs' Need Only Apply

Thursday, Feb 05 2009

A row has broken out in Salzberg, Austria after a company tried to recruit workers born under certain star signs.

The Salzburg insurance company posted an advert in major newspapers seeking employees for sales and management that were born under certain constellations, claiming statistics indicated that they were the best workers. Their ad read:

"We are looking for people over 20 for part-time jobs in sales and management with the following star signs: Capricorn, Taurus, Aquarius, Aries and Leo."

It was followed by a wave of protests from equality groups and led to an investigation by the country’s anti-discrimination authorities.

"A statistical study indicated that almost all of our best employees across Austria have one of the five star signs. We only decided to continue with that system and hire the best workers," the spokesman said.

An investigation by Austrian authorities showed that there was nothing illegal in choosing the employees according to their star signs, as there was no discrimination according to existing laws about gender, age, racial and other equality.

'I Like Sarah Palin'

"I like Sarah Palin, and I've heartily enjoyed her arrival on the national stage. As a career classroom teacher, I can see how smart she is -- and quite frankly, I think the people who don't see it are the stupid ones, wrapped in the fuzzy mummy-gauze of their own worn-out partisan dogma. So she doesn't speak the King's English -- big whoop! There is a powerful clarity of consciousness in her eyes. She uses language with the jumps, breaks and rippling momentum of a be-bop saxophonist. I stand on what I said (as a staunch pro-choice advocate) in my last two columns -- that Palin as a pro-life wife, mother and ambitious professional represents the next big shift in feminism. Pro-life women will save feminism by expanding it, particularly into the more traditional Third World."

Camille Paglia

Student Auctions off Virginity

Natalie Dylan, 22, claims her offer of a one-night stand has persuaded 10,000 men to bid for sex with her.

Last September, when her auction came to light, she had received bids up to £162,000 ($243,000) but since then interest in her has rocketed.

The student who has a degree in Women's Studies insisted she was not demeaning herself.

Miss Dylan, from San Diego, California, USA, said she was persuaded to offer herself to the highest bidder after her sister Avia, 23, paid for her own degree after working as a prostitute for three weeks.

She said she had had a lot of attention from a wide range of men, including "weirdos", "those who get really graphically sexual about what they want to do to me" and "lots of polite requests from rich businessmen".

Miss Dylan said she did not think it was particularly significant to be willing to sell your virginity and insisted that she was happy to undergo medical tests for any doubters.

She said:

"I get some men who are obviously looking for a girlfriend but I try and make it clear that this is a one-night-only offer. I know that a lot of people will condemn me for this because it's so taboo but I really don't have a problem with that. My study is completely authentic in that I truly am auctioning my virginity but I am not being sold into this. I'm not being taken advantage of in any way. I think me and the person I do it with will both profit greatly from the deal."

Source: Telegraph