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A math professor who objects to diversity statements

theatlantic.com

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Re: A math professor who objects to diversity statements

#61

Post by Syzygies »

This reminds me of anti-harassment training at my college. We were asked to go to a web site with interactive videos. I was struck that none of my colleagues could have achieved tenure creating cartoonish materials like this. Moreover, the quiz component was worded like a contract renegotiation. I have tenure, start proceedings to fire me if I breach our code of conduct, but my contract is not up for renegotiation.

I objected, and our lawyers came up with a statement I could instead sign to fulfill training.

Re: A math professor who objects to diversity statements

#62

Post by cubefox »

The sound of that "written statement" indeed rings alarm bells for me:

> We understand and acknowledge that systemic racism permeates all aspects of our society. We acknowledge that systemic racism permeates the culture of our own institution and department. For this we are deeply sorry; we know that we have work to do.

Re: A math professor who objects to diversity statements

#64

Post by loeg »

cubefox wrote: post #62

The sound of that "written statement" indeed rings alarm bells for me: > We understand and acknowledge that systemic racism permeates all aspects of our society. We acknowledge that systemic racism permeates the culture of our own institution and department. For this we are deeply sorry; we know that we have work to do.

It's the Kendi school of everything is racism.

Re: A math professor who objects to diversity statements

#65

Post by AlbertCory »

shermantanktop wrote: post #27

This is a well established pattern: someone who grew up in the Soviet Union and had traumatic experiences with ideological conformity now reacts to something happening in the US with a ferocity of feeling that ends up comparing that thing to pogroms, forced collectivization and ideological purges. Is it warranted? Depends what they are saying, and their points should stand on their own. But they are larded with Cassa…

I think we can call that an ad hominem attack:

"This person sounds like other people I don't like. Therefore I don't like him."

Re: A math professor who objects to diversity statements

#66

Post by jballer »

christiangenco wrote: post #8

For two excellent books on the topic of how the woke ideology corrodes societies (academia in particular) check out "What's Our Problem?" by Tim Urban and "The Coddling of the American Mind" by by Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt.

[flagged]

Re: A math professor who objects to diversity statements

#67

Post by bawolff »

danielvf wrote: post #52

Here's a scoring guide from a US university for DEI statements. To me it's much more informative to go to primary sources for what is selected for, rather than only reading about them second hand. https://ofew.berkeley.edu/recruitment/contributions-diversit...

Thanks,i agree its best to look at it directly.

But i do wonder what lines like "Clearly formulates new ideas for advancing equity and inclusion at Berkeley and within their field, through their research,..." mean

What does it mean for a math professor to advance diversity through their research?

Like i could maybe get it for the arts or even some social sciences, but what does that look like for math?

Re: A math professor who objects to diversity statements

#68

Post by coolhand2120 »

TotoHorner wrote: post #35
moose_man wrote: post #3

'Painful experiences long ago convinced Barvinok that requirements to affirm any ideal are corrosive in academia. “I grew up in the Soviet Union, where people had to affirm their fealty to ideals, and the leaders embodying those ideals, on a daily basis,” he told me. “As years went by, I observed the remarkable ease with which passionate communists turned first into passionate pro-Western liberals and then into passi…

> I grew up in the Soviet Union, where people had to affirm their fealty to ideals Well, a scary % of the DEI professionals I've come across also self-identify as communists, so not sure if they view that as a bad association.

The E of DEI is very Marxist indeed. We all want equal opportunity, some just want to have the government forcibly take what others have earned.

Re: A math professor who objects to diversity statements

#69

Post by cubefox »

The main problem with regarding diversity as a value in itself is that it is incompatible with meritocracy. If one wants to give preferential treatment to "diverse" individuals, one cannot at the same time prefer more capable individuals, since the two properties are far from perfectly correlated.

Re: A math professor who objects to diversity statements

#70

Post by zug_zug »

I see opposing mandatory diversity statements as a tenable viewpoint on the same grounds that one might object mandatorily standing for the national anthem/pledge of allegiance.

I think these two examples help illustrate how this problem is not unique to any one political party.

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