An Ohio State professor of mathematics has expressed concern over OSU’s Diversity Action Plan, calling it “unclear” and “one-sided.”
“The report gives recommendations on fixing many problems without comprehensive (or any) analysis of what the problems really are, or what are the sources or reasons of the problem,” said Boris Mityagin.
Mityagin noted OSU’s graduation and retention rates. In 1999, he said, the six-year graduation rates for white students was 57.6 percent and for black students was 37.2 percent.
Mityagin said this data could mean blacks are being discriminated against by OSU instructors, so they succeed less in the classroom.
On the other hand, it could also mean the admission policies and practices at OSU give blacks an unfair advantage, thereby enrolling less qualified applicants whose lack of skills and preparation for college-level work translate into low graduation rates.
“Of course, other socio-psychological and socio-economic conjectures could be legitimate and seriously tested,” Mityagin said. “Which is more likely to be true? The Diversity Action Committee has not done any analysis of such competing conjectures.”
In addition, Mityagin noted that diversity could refer to racial diversity, gender diversity, a diversity of ideas or any number of other qualities.
“The definition is not clear,” Mityagin said. “And how can you achieve diversity if you don’t know what it is?”
Carole Anderson, dean of the College of Nursing and co-chair of the committee that produced the Diversity Action Plan, said the plan clearly states that OSU has defined diversity as “difference, variance and heterogeneity.”
However, she added, the university has chosen to concentrate on racial, ethnic and gender-related diversity, because this is where the most work needs to be done. “We’re aware that there are many different groups and different issues, but we need to focus,” Anderson said.
Since the meaning of the statistical data presented within the plan is unclear, Mityagin said, a statement such as “Today, in the year 2000, we have a university environment that both perpetuate racism, sexism and homophobia and give privilege to white, heterosexual males” is unwarranted.
