[573] in Discussion of MIT-community interests
a diversity GIR for MIT?
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Jimmy_B,MajMoola,MechWarrior,etc._)
Tue May 8 19:27:30 2001
Message-Id: <200105082327.TAA01434@MECHWARRIOR.MIT.EDU>
To: mit-talk@MIT.EDU
Date: Tue, 08 May 2001 19:27:45 EDT
From: "Jimmy_B,MajMoola,MechWarrior,etc._Chien-ta Wu" <jimmbswu@MIT.EDU>
[Note: If you fervently believe that *everyone* has to have an appreciation for
diversity, please do not send us emails about why *everyone* has to have an
appreciation for diversity. That's not the questions we're answering here, and
you're unlikely to score any points anyway. And the inverse is also true. If
you think I'm talking to you, you are probably right.]
On a mailing list, someone mentioned that there should be a diversity GIR for
MIT. The following questions logically follow:
1.) Is an appreciation for diversity something that can be taught, or is it
something that everyone has to come to realize on their own, at their own pace,
their own time?
2.) What is the best way to foster an appreciation for diversity on this campus?
A class? A training seminar? A different MOYA? A different Bufa Bufa? A
residence requirement? (eg, you have to live within 6 ft of someone different
from you.)
3.) For the people who want a diversity GIR, exactly how do you envision it
being implemented?
3.a) Corollary: How do you plan to avoid the pitfalls with the diversity
requirements at other colleges? eg, an Chinese-American can take a
class on Chinese culture to satisfy the diversity/cultural requirement,
but taking a Russian culture class can never satisfy the diversity
requirement.
Personally, I don't think diversity can be taught, and that it is really
something that everyone has to come to realize on their own. But I'm interested
in what you think.
No personal attacks this time, people, please.
B, crackpot and defender of the status quo
-----------
http://www.mit.edu/~jimmbswu "Who Dares, Wins."
--UK SAS
"It is good that war is so terrible,
else we should grow too fond of it."
--R. E. Lee
