Present programs in ethnic studies neglect problems in diversity

Monday, September 28, 1998

Present programs in ethnic studies neglect problems in
diversity

EDUCATION: Courses focus on differences, fall short of lending
insight

Last spring, as many students across the state celebrated their
graduation from the University of California, I was struck by the
increasing number of graduation ceremonies that were being held on
the basis of race and ethnicity. UCLA, for example, hosted the "All
African People’s Graduation" for black graduates and the "Raza
Graduation" for Latino graduates, among other racially based
ceremonies. This trend concerns me because I believe it signals
that we are moving away from diversifying and toward more and more
separation determined by race.

Based on my concerns, earlier this summer I suggested that I am
considering independently performing an evaluation of the ethnic
studies programs at the various University of California campuses.
Although I merely suggested reviewing these programs, not
dismantling them, the opposition from those who strongly support
ethnic studies programs was immediate and vociferous. Nevertheless,
I will not be deterred from asking tough questions about the
purpose and expense of programs centered on race and gender.

I, along with the other members of the University of
California’s Board of Regents, have been entrusted with a fiduciary
responsibility for the University. As a consequence, the Board
spends a great deal of time sifting through budget requests, policy
recommendations, and auditing and evaluating current programs. Our
efforts and decisions are always aimed at ensuring that we provide
the highest quality education possible within the fiscal
constraints with which we are always faced. In order to completely
fulfill our responsibilities, we cannot allow any University
program to escape Board scrutiny. Again, let me reiterate that I am
not proposing to eliminate these programs.

As our country becomes more and more diverse every day, I
believe that it is important for everyone to respect differences in
culture and background. This is a valid role for an educational
institution, and ethnic studies courses can provide an opportunity
for students to receive exposure to other cultures and examine
history from different perspectives. Also, these courses can be a
powerful force in tearing down persistent stereotypes and
facilitating unity among our citizenry.

On the other hand, if those individuals who administer ethnic
studies programs are obsessed by political considerations and
identity advocacy, then that will be reflected in the student
population. When I was chair of the California Civil Rights
Initiative (Proposition 209), there were many cases where ethnic
studies departments seemed to become hubs of political activity
opposing the initiative. This pattern continues to be repeated on
other initiatives. Certainly, everyone has the right to voice their
support or opposition to any issue. It is a right essential to our
freedom.

No one, however, enjoys the right to use taxpayer’s time and
money to further his own political objectives. If the faculties and
staffs of ethnic studies departments have not used government
resources for these purposes, they should welcome a review that
makes this clear.

I further question what contribution ethnic studies programs are
making toward the diversity of our campuses. When the University of
California eliminated race and gender considerations in making
admissions decisions, there was a great cry that diversity at the
University would suffer. Holding separate graduation ceremonies,
separate student governments and separate orientations seems to
throw this diversity concern out the window. After all, the
argument for diversity is to bring unlike people together, and
therefore, enhance the quality of learning. Clustering along racial
lines clearly defeats this objective.

Many of those who have criticized my raising questions about
ethnic studies have asked me, "Why haven’t you challenged programs
like European studies?" The answer is the same as why I haven’t
challenged Latin American studies – studying continents and nations
is clearly different than studying differences in people’s skin
color. There is a major and obvious difference between African
studies and African American studies. Is the latter concerned with
understanding black America’s past, or is it obsessed with drawing
out "differences" based on skin color? Do these courses attempt to
tear down stereotypes or merely try to fight stereotypes with
stereotypes?

Besides concerns with where ethnic studies programs may be
taking our society, in terms of facilitating racial unity, there
are also some practical questions that must be raised. First, does
every race, gender and sexual orientation warrant its own
department? Could some of these departments merge and enable us to
keep administrative costs down without sacrificing course
offerings? Or, is there a preoccupation with "difference" that
presents a stumbling block? Also, aside from students taking
various ethnic studies to broaden their understanding of different
cultures, is there utility in providing degree programs which
emphasize a particular race or ethnicity? What will someone do with
a degree in African American studies? Are we giving some of our
students an obsolete degree? I think it is appropriate and
necessary to review these considerations.

No doubt, many will choose to attack me rather than engaging in
an honest discussion of the questions I have raised. Indeed, one
parent attending a race-based graduation ceremony at UCLA last
spring was quoted in the Los Angeles Times as saying, "It’s totally
ridiculous. He thinks that no matter where we come from, we come to
college and magically, we’re all the same. We’re not." Doesn’t the
rationale of "separate because we aren’t the same" have a
hauntingly similar ring to that put forward by advocates of
"separate but equal" laws in place before Brown vs. Board of
Education? Are we selectively forgetting some of the ugly lessons
of this country’s past in the name of diversity? If we are, it is
my hope that others will join me in discussing where we are headed
with regard to this nation’s race relations. We cannot afford to
become so wrapped up in the vehicle for change we have chosen that
we lose sight of the ultimate direction in which we want it to take
us.

Undoubtedly, ethnic studies programs can play an extremely
valuable role for the students of the University of California. My
goal, as a steward of the University, is to ensure that these
programs are on the right track and are embracing goals that will
ultimately be to our society’s benefit.

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