Diversity council’s effectiveness debated works to ensure UCLA
diversity
Members defend work; critics cite lack of proactive agenda
By Anne Mai
Daily Bruin Contributor
As the university deals with the potentially dramatic changes of
the UC Regents’ decision to end affirmative action, the
Chancellor’s Council on Diversity should have a a heavy impact on
UCLA’s implementation and interpretation of the ruling.
The question is, "will it?"
Established by Chancellor Charles Young in 1988, the council
works to ensure a fully diversified campus through curriculum,
recruitment and retention of both students and faculty, and a
hospitable campus environment.
With a budget of $3,000 to $9,000 for events sponsoring
diversity, the council plans to continue last year’s diversity
lecture series and start new events like workshops on gender equity
in the classroom.
The workshops, which would be presented to professors, teaching
assistants and students, would "(look) at different ways men and
women communicate in the classroom," explained Carol Petersen, vice
provost of the College of Letters and Science.
But despite the workshops and other projects, some campus
leaders questioned the council’s effectiveness.
Citing the infrequency of meetings and the lack of a proactive
agenda, undergraduate President York Chang said "to the extent that
the council provides forum for dealing with nitty-gritty issues, it
has a limited use."
Council members disagreed that the council is ineffective. To
Petersen and other members, the council provides a place for
"sharing of information exchanging" and focuses campus attention on
issues of diversity.
"It’s purposes are serious. It keeps diversity on the agenda,"
Petersen said.
Chris Schemers, a council member and 1996 student regent
finalist, agreed.
"This council does very real things."
Although the exchange of information in the committee is useful,
the council’s marginal role in dealing with the regent’s decision
should be expanded, Chang said.
"All we really have is administration and faculty talking about
issues (dealing) with decisions already made. For information, it’s
useful. But as a tool of empowerment and influence in the college,
it’s not happening," Chang said.
And despite her assertions that the council is effective,
Petersen said she can understand frustration with the council’s
lack of direct power.
"Problems are so deep they can’t be addressed by the committee
but they are recognized. (The committee) doesn’t have broad reach
or authority to make it different," she said.
Schemers agreed that the council doesn’t have the authority to
influence policy decisions, particularly the regents’ ruling to end
affirmative action. But he blamed this more on a lack of funding
rather than on the council itself.
In response to the need for more power, the council is in the
process of restructuring, said Shirley Hune, the council’s chair.
But despite the apparent lack of real influence, council members
emphasize the committee’s other values.
"I don’t say that this is the right or only mechanism to get to
these issues, but it represents a lot of offices (who come
together) with the hope of getting some good out of it," Petersen
said.Comments to webmaster@db.asucla.ucla.edu