Building a Committee

This week, I worked with a set of dedicated students. Our joint task was identifying a set of candidates for the new Provost’s Committee for Diversity, each of which would be forwarded to the next step of the selection process.

We received expressions of interest from scores of people throughout the university — undergraduate students, graduate students, and staff members. The purpose of the committee is to identify and address the variety of issues that are present in all organizations in the US and in many other parts of the world. They are issues of intergroup activities. How does each of us learn about those different from us? How do we act with respect to others? How can we learn to avoid tendencies for automatic prejudgment and stereotyping? How do we see another as a complex mix of attributes, both visible and invisible?

At Georgetown, we seek to build an environment that looks like the world our students must be skilled in leading. Since many of us grew up in environments much more homogeneous on race, socioeconomic status, language, and culture, we all are constantly learning about other groups. How do we build an environment that nurtures that learning without fear?

The committee’s work grew out of a committed group of students who raised my consciousness, and that of others, about interpersonal problems that are interpreted as lack of respect or rudeness. The group already accomplished much — sketching out a way forward to build academic courses that might educate about issues of race, power, intergroup relations; building more ties between alumni of color and current students; and addressing student life issues that merit attention.

Reviewing the applications for committee membership gave me optimism about the prospects of assembling a strong group. The students provided short essays about their perceptions of key issues that were relevant to the committee. Many discussed the complications of navigating Georgetown as a student of color. Several discussed identity issues that are unique to those coming from mixed heritage. Others described feelings of not being heard or understood in classroom discussions. Some reflected on the campus scene, noting that separation by race, culture, and language groups seemed disproportionate. Others noted students of color tended not to occupy positions of leadership in many student organizations. Many noted that diversity has dimensions that go far beyond traditional notions, and that Georgetown needs to bring those dimensions into focus. Others noted that feelings of isolation hurt academic performance and were distractions from the chief responsibilities of being a student at Georgetown. Some international students, new to the American culture, noted that they experienced treatment by others that was new to them. They didn’t fully understand it.

Reviewing the mass of applications, I became confident that the final candidates we choose will serve Georgetown well in identifying and addressing the pressing issues the university. I can’t wait to see the group assembled.