2008 Woodie Awards
Discussions on diversity fall short
Austen Levihn-Coon
Issue date: 5/8/08 Section: Features
While efforts have been made recently by the College to promote diversity initiatives, including the establishment of the Office of Institutional Diversity and Planning, there is still a sense among community members that Middlebury is homogenous and that discussion of difference is ignored rather than promoted. Of particular concern is that the conception of diversity as solely racial or ethnic needs to be reworked to include socioeconomic difference, and that the classroom is central to promoting dialogue.
"I think that class is a huge issue on this campus that is heavily silenced in a very unhealthy way," said Vice President for Institutional Planning and Diversity Shirley Ramirez. "I don't think there's a space for students to talk about their financial privilege or deficits for that matter."
After attending a "Real World Middlebury" workshop organized by Associate Dean of the College Karen Guttentag and intended to foster exactly that sort of frank discourse, Ramirez was surprised to discover the source of students' reticence.
"What was interesting to me was that the barrier to the dialogue was that students feel the need to put on a façade, to fake it," she said. "I was expecting more responses like 'you have to be politically correct,' or 'I don't want to be labeled a racist,' but they were more about what it means to be part of this community and what it means to be comfortable here."
Bonnie Hemphill '08 said that students often steer clear of discussing privilege and wealth in order to avoid making their peers feel uncomfortable.
"In the face of the College's plush landscaping, 'free' medical care and cushy athletics, it's easy to smooth over any contentious economic issues," said Hemphill. "It just 'wouldn't be nice' to talk much about how some students are loaded trust-fund babies, but many are riding on the hopes and savings of 14 extended family members, or even their own check-out line earnings."
However, the promotion of discussion surrounding diversity is much more complex than income disparity and racial and ethnic difference.
"I think that class is a huge issue on this campus that is heavily silenced in a very unhealthy way," said Vice President for Institutional Planning and Diversity Shirley Ramirez. "I don't think there's a space for students to talk about their financial privilege or deficits for that matter."
After attending a "Real World Middlebury" workshop organized by Associate Dean of the College Karen Guttentag and intended to foster exactly that sort of frank discourse, Ramirez was surprised to discover the source of students' reticence.
"What was interesting to me was that the barrier to the dialogue was that students feel the need to put on a façade, to fake it," she said. "I was expecting more responses like 'you have to be politically correct,' or 'I don't want to be labeled a racist,' but they were more about what it means to be part of this community and what it means to be comfortable here."
Bonnie Hemphill '08 said that students often steer clear of discussing privilege and wealth in order to avoid making their peers feel uncomfortable.
"In the face of the College's plush landscaping, 'free' medical care and cushy athletics, it's easy to smooth over any contentious economic issues," said Hemphill. "It just 'wouldn't be nice' to talk much about how some students are loaded trust-fund babies, but many are riding on the hopes and savings of 14 extended family members, or even their own check-out line earnings."
However, the promotion of discussion surrounding diversity is much more complex than income disparity and racial and ethnic difference.
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