Editorial: Student activism, interest proves need for diversity-related GE

After more than two decades of advocacy, the introduction of a diversity-related general education requirement at UCLA is long overdue.

In June 2012, faculty in the College of Letters and Science rejected a proposal that would have established a “Community and Conflict in the Modern World” requirement, an unobtrusive addition to the curriculum that would fit within the existing general education structure without mandating students to take additional courses.

Despite student support, the proposal was voted down by faculty for a number of reasons, including concern over how the program might be implemented, what courses it would include and an uncertain UCLA budget.

Since then, the topic has repeatedly been broached, most recently in a meeting between administrators and third-year Afro-American studies student Sy Stokes, whose “The Black Bruins (Spoken Word)” video garnered more than 1.3 million views on YouTube.

But the discussion about diversity and inclusion at the university is much larger. Many students demonstrated interest in expanding diversity-related programs like a GE requirement so far this year, and in the coming months professors must be responsive to this call.

In October, hundreds of students organized on campus in support of affirmative action; their frustration manifested in two consecutive protests organized in part by the Afrikan Student Union along with Undergraduate Students Association Council External Vice President’s Office.

And just this past weekend, more than 1,200 high school and college students met in Westwood for the University of California Student Association’s annual Student of Color Conference, discussing and demonstrating against a lack of diversity in the UC system.

The will is there on the part of students, but will faculty step up and find a way to institutionalize the study of diversity?

In 2012, just 29.6 percent of eligible faculty voted on the general education proposal and just 19.7 percent voted on a similar measure in 2004. Before the most recent vote, students lobbied a number of professors in person to inform them about the initiative last year, but to no avail.

Low turnout and apparent ambivalence among college faculty on this issue are major causes for concern.

The stalemate is born of apathy that, unless changes are made to the GE proposal process, will present advocates of a diversity requirement with an uphill battle for years to come.

This deadlock exists because of a fundamental difference in the interests of students and professors. While students will lose out on a lack of breadth in general education courses, many instructors in UCLA’s academic departments don’t stand to suffer the same loss.

UCLA is currently the only UC without a diversity GE requirement. Without an attitude or procedural change among faculty, UCLA will continue to lag behind.