Diversity leaders on the UW-Madison campus gathered in front of students and faculty Thursday to express their ideas about what a diverse campus should look like.
Dr. Damon Williams, vice provost for Diversity and Climate, and Steven Olikara, chair of the Associated Students of Madison Diversity Committee commented on the need for a broader outlook of diversity on campus.
Olikara, who was elected in November of 2008, said he envisions an ""inclusive"" approach to diversity.
""Exclusivity creates tension … when we are trying to improve campus climate, that is a a very important issue,"" he said.
Olikara said students can learn a lot from the outcomes of Plan 2008.
Plan 2008 was a program implemented in 1998 to increase representation of minorities on campus. The program had seven specific goals, including recruitment and retention of students of color. Other goals included more faculty and administrators of color.
""From what I have noticed from Plan 2008, we have smeared diversity with all these other terms. It tags these inaccurate labels to students,"" Olikara said. ""Because [the plan] ended, we have a real opportunity to change course.""
Williams, who was hired in August 2008, measured diversity in similar terms.
""Diversity is not an ends in terms of head count, but diversity is fundamentally and essentially a means to the fulfillment of our missions,"" he said.
According to Olikara, students need to focus on collaboration and have a common vision and message throughout the campus.
""I think if we all work together, and all of us open up to innovative change, the opportunity for change is enormous,"" he said. ""Diversity on campus is so fundamental to our education.""
Olikara said he was happy with how the event panned out.
""Some of the most distinguished campus leaders were there, people who have been working on diversity for decades,"" he said. ""My speech meant a lot to me … I think it was the message they needed to hear.""
