Please Support an Asian American Studies Program at UIC!
For over a decade, dedicated individuals have struggled to establish an Asian American Studies program at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Despite the bureaucratic barriers (limited funding, limited building space, etc) that are used to refute the need for diversity and multicultural education, I sincerely hope that this will be the year when students’ desires for an Asian American Studies program at UIC are actualized.
The University of Illinois at Chicago is currently communicating a negative message about diversity and simultaneously neglecting to properly address a sincere problem on its campus. Approximately 25% of UIC’s student population identify themselves as Asian or Asian American. However the Asian American Coalition Committee cites that “Asian Americans are not included as a legitimate minority on UIC’s diversity webpage” (http://www.uic.edu/portfolio/diversity). This is outrageous!
We need to hold institutions of higher learning, such as the University of Illinois at Chicago, to higher standards. Universities and colleges have an ethical obligation to promote and endorse cultural diversity. How can we expect younger generations to appreciate multiculturalism, diversity, and sensitivity if we fail to promote it through our educational structures?
The University of Illinois at Chicago is currently communicating a negative message about diversity and simultaneously neglecting to properly address a sincere problem on its campus. Approximately 25% of UIC’s student population identify themselves as Asian or Asian American. However the Asian American Coalition Committee cites that “Asian Americans are not included as a legitimate minority on UIC’s diversity webpage” (http://www.uic.edu/portfolio/diversity). This is outrageous!
We need to hold institutions of higher learning, such as the University of Illinois at Chicago, to higher standards. Universities and colleges have an ethical obligation to promote and endorse cultural diversity. How can we expect younger generations to appreciate multiculturalism, diversity, and sensitivity if we fail to promote it through our educational structures?
posted by MDC Youth Rep at 4:32 PM
1 Comments:
Miss Sensations -
You're correct in your last paragraph when you say that universities have an ethical obligation to foster appreciation and understanding of cultural, ethnic, racial, and other forms of diversity. However, as a result of some radical discourse it seems the public is rebelling on the universities effectively silencing education on the grounds that multiculturalism and sensitivity are pejorative. You are correct to assert and advocate that this cannot happen. Continue the strong advocacy. In the age of global citizenship we can ill afford to be uninformed and ignorant!
By the way, your blog is awesome!
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