The faculty senate passed the first of the statements in May 1996. This resolution simply stated that the University must be open to "all qualified persons." The next statement on diversity passed shortly after the lawsuit was filed against the University challenging the use of race in admissions processes. This resolution endorsed the need for a diverse faculty and student body to help create a better educational environment. This is where the faculty's governing body had a perfect window of opportunity to address the issue of affirmative action at the University. Yet it chose to continue to pass resolutions that made no references to affirmative action nor stated expectations for the University.
It is important for the University's faculty to address issues that affect campus. They should make students aware of their feelings toward University policies. But a piece-meal process providing statement after statement while offering no commitment by the faculty or recommendations to the University is not enough. While the faculty has made it clear that they support a diverse campus, they have completely ignored the complex issue of affirmative action. How is the University to maintain a rich, diverse campus without specific recommendations as to how to achieve this? The Senate Assembly needs to develop a statement addressing these specific issues.
University President Lee Bollinger recently asked the University's faculty for possible solutions to minority student concerns, particularly regarding the negative effects of the lawsuits on the campus environment. Once again, the faculty has a window of opportunity to provide the University with a strong, unified stance in support of affirmative action. While the next diversity statement is expected to include recommendations for maintaining a diverse campus, it is not expected to be released until next year.
The senate should develop an all-inclusive statement. The diversity statements are a step in the right direction, but they are not enough. A completely unified resolution, passed by the University's faculty in support of affirmative action as a means to achieve campus diversity, could provide the necessary momentum toward an acceptance of the importance of educational diversity. The student body should encourage the faculty to make this bold step. To ensure a future diverse educational environment at the University, the groundwork needs to be established now.