January 2007
A
study of university websites released today by the National Association of
Scholars reveals an obsession with diversity unparalleled in any other sector of
American opinion leadership. Only on university websites do the overall
references to diversity exceed in number references to traditional American
ideals like freedom, democracy, and liberty. In striking contrast, the websites
of the major media (both print and
broadcasting), national business associations, leading churches, labor unions,
"the new media," and the major political parties, typically referred to
freedom far more often than diversity. Both Republican and Democratic National
committees, for instance, refer to freedom about eight times as often as
diversity, "the blogs" about seven times as often, television about five times
as often, print media and religious denominations about four times as often, and
even unions twice as often. References to freedom exceed those to diversity on
the websites of the major business associations by a ratio of three to two.
By
contrast, the references to diversity on the websites of the top 100 U.S.
News & World ReportUniversities and Colleges exceeded those to freedom by a
ratio of four to three, even though "academic freedom" is an issue higher
education presumably holds dear. Other traditional liberal/democratic watchwords
faired even worse. For the same group of academic institutions diversity
references exceeded liberty by a ratio of five to one, equality four to one, and
democracy three to one. No other opinion leadership sector in the nation has
such a pattern of preference.
"In
current intellectual usage, the word ‘diversity’, has acquired a meaning largely
antithetical to the ideals that have given America its distinctive character,"
observed Stephen H. Balch, president of the NAS. "In ‘diversityspeak,’ America
is a collection of ethnicities and lifestyles rather than a common cultural
identity, and group membership trumps individuality. Given the caste mentality
associated with the term, and its emphasis on grievance and victimhood, it is
especially alarming that university references to diversity exceed those to
freedom and liberty, words emblematic of individual autonomy and national
pride." "The endless reiterations in
academe of this corporatist term," continued Dr. Balch, "indicate the great gulf
that has opened between our universities and the rest of the country. And
interestingly, it is in contrast with those sectors closest to the people that
the chasm yawns widest. It is the media and both of our major political parties,
relying as they do on the American people for patronage and votes, that most
stress freedom, liberty, and democracy over diversity — as, in great measure,
do our labor unions, as well. The separation is smallest, although still
substantial, between the universities, on the one hand, and
Washington business lobbies and mainline churches,
on the other."
"Unfortunately," concluded Dr. Balch, "our universities are educators, and hence
leading indicators of cultural change. During the 1980s, diversity was little
more than an ideological term-of-art confined to the discourse of assorted
humanities faculties. Today it has extensively penetrated into the national
psyche, even recognized by the government — albeit by the judiciary, the least
popular branch – as a ‘compelling state interest.’ If diversity is not now
central to the American people’s vision of itself, it may eventually become so.
Accomplishing this, alas, is a mission to which our universities appear
resolutely pledged."
The National Association of Scholars is America’s foremost higher education
reform group. Located in Princeton, it has forty-six state affiliates and more
than four thousand professors, graduate students, administrators, and trustees
as members.
Stephen Balch is president of NAS. Contact: 609-683-7878.
National Association of
Scholars, June 29, 2006.
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