<< Front page Commentary April 23, 2004

OC’s diversity not consistent

To the Editors:

In an article in the Review’s previous issue it was noted that “of the top ten administrators of Oberlin College, 100 percent pass as white, 70 percent pass as male, and 90 percent pass as heterosexual (by marriage to a partner of the opposite sex).” This is uncharacteristic of who we are and what we stand for, because the community of Oberlin is very unique and special.

We are a community of diverse people from many places who come to live and work intensely together to flourish in the arts, organize politics, discover scientific breakthroughs, challenge each other’s minds, travel the world and challenge status quo.

This is a place that changes people’s lives forever, even the visitors that come here for only a weekend. What would it take to bring Oberlin to the next level?

What if the make-up of Oberlin’s administrative body represented the student body in as many ways as possible? What if the ethnic make-up of the students directly represented the people within the world?

Can Oberlin make that big step? There are a lot of new positions of power opening up right now within this institution. It is an opportunity to diversify Oberlin on all levels.

Are we the type of people that are capable, powerful and open enough to lead ourselves to the next level of social partnership?

If we were to do this, what would it provide for the world and for other institutions? What would it provide for the 21st century?

–Sage Lewis
College senior


 
 
   

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