Students Propose Diversity Class

Members of the AHANA Leadership Council (ALC) as well as culture clubs and other student groups have presented a proposal to the administration to institute a freshman diversity seminar, which, if implemented, would be mandatory for all first-year students.
"Misconceptions regarding affirmative action and the apparent lack of awareness of and sensitivity to racism, sexism, classism, homophobia, and religion are at the root of many tensions in our community and need to be addressed through academic means," reads the proposal, drafted by a commitee of students.

Earl Edwards, ALC president and A&S '10, said the proposed seminar would ideally last six weeks, with classes meeting twice a week. "The proposal is not to make you an expert on these issues," Edwards said. "But it does make you aware."
The ideal structure of the class would be around small group seminars, with alternating lecture and discussions to allow students to share their experiences and ideas with their peers. "We want people in the class to feel comfortable talking to their peers," Edwards said.

Each class section would ideally be capped at 25 students, according to the proposal.
The committee has presented the proposal to Donald Hafner, vice provost for undergraduate affairs, but still needs time to settle logistical issues, Edwards said. "This isn't going to happen immediately," he said. "But we want to get at least a pilot program in the next couple of years."

Hafner could not be reached for comment.

Erika Hernandez, vice president-elect of the ALC, committee member, and A&S '11, said that the ALC has sought assistance from several faculty members, all of whom have been supportive. Deborah Piatelli, a professor in the sociology department, has maintained dialogue with the ALC on the proposal and is currently the proposal's strongest faculty supporter, Hernandez said.

When asked about funding the initiative, Edwards said that the need for a University course on diversity would attract the funding necessary. "I was told by a wise man that if the course is going to benefit the BC community, it's not going to be a problem," he said. "If we can show that this class can make Boston College students handle these issues, the money will come."

Hernandez said that it might be too early to address such logistical issues. "I feel that people can get so caught up in the logistics that they forget about the idea behind the course."
Eatonia Davis, committee member and A&S '11, said that while the ALC is seeking approval and dialogue from high ranking administrators, these encounters have been limited to "five minute conversations."

Davis said the committee's relationship with University President Rev. William P. Leahy, S.J., has been limited. "He's a little frightened of me," she said. "He has good reason to be frightened of me."

Davis said that, given the nature of the course, she is disappointed the University does not already provide something of the kind. "It's about money," she said. "I would like to see my $50,000 at work. I expect the people who are educating here to make that decision first."

One issue committee members highlighted was the fact that the class should encourage students to further explore social constructs through other classes at BC. "It's about stimulating your palate," said Jennifer Liao, president of the Asian Caucus and CSOM '10. "It's more about knowing where you're coming from and how cultural constructs affect who you are."

Edwards said that even while most students might not explicitly be "racist," they could be unaware of the social constructs that dictate their lives. "The thing is, these social constructs are made by us," he said. "We keep them intact."

This lack of awareness, he said, serves as a reason for the mandatory nature of the class. "There are things that the University says, ‘We think this is going to be of value to you,'" he said. "For example, I didn't necessarily want to take a philosophy class when I came here, but I'm taking a philosophy class."