Adam Liptak, New York Times; Justices Take Up Race as a Factor in College Entry:
"A decision barring the use of race in admission decisions would undo an accommodation reached in the Supreme Court’s 5-to-4 decision in 2003 in Grutter v. Bollinger: that public colleges and universities could not use a point system to increase minority enrollment but could take race into account in vaguer ways to ensure academic diversity.
Supporters of affirmative action reacted with alarm to the court’s decision to hear the case. “I think it’s ominous,” said Lee Bollinger, the president of Columbia University, who as president of the University of Michigan was a defendant in the Grutter case. “It threatens to undo several decades of effort within higher education to build a more integrated and just and educationally enriched environment.”"
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Lawsuit Pits Political Activism Against Campus Diversity; New York Times, 1/9/12
Adam Liptak, New York Times; Lawsuit Pits Political Activism Against Campus Diversity:
"Ms. Wagner, who graduated from the law school in 1993 and had taught at the George Mason University School of Law, was not hired. She sued, alleging discrimination because of her political beliefs. Late last month, a unanimous three-judge panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, in St. Louis, ruled that her case should go to trial, saying she had presented enough evidence to suggest that “Dean Jones’s repeated decisions not to hire Wagner were in part motivated by Wagner’s constitutionally protected First Amendment rights of political belief and association.”
Ms. Wagner’s lawyer, Stephen T. Fieweger, said the decision was a victory for an important sort of academic freedom.
“It’s gotten to the point where the law school’s diversity efforts are to eliminate everyone from the mainstream,” he said. “They espouse cultural diversity, but won’t consider the conservative viewpoint."
"Ms. Wagner, who graduated from the law school in 1993 and had taught at the George Mason University School of Law, was not hired. She sued, alleging discrimination because of her political beliefs. Late last month, a unanimous three-judge panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, in St. Louis, ruled that her case should go to trial, saying she had presented enough evidence to suggest that “Dean Jones’s repeated decisions not to hire Wagner were in part motivated by Wagner’s constitutionally protected First Amendment rights of political belief and association.”
Ms. Wagner’s lawyer, Stephen T. Fieweger, said the decision was a victory for an important sort of academic freedom.
“It’s gotten to the point where the law school’s diversity efforts are to eliminate everyone from the mainstream,” he said. “They espouse cultural diversity, but won’t consider the conservative viewpoint."
Friday, December 16, 2011
Gay People Around the World Face Bias, Abuse and Violence, a Study Reports; Reuters via New York Times, 12/15/11
Reuters, New York Times; Gay People Around the World Face Bias, Abuse and Violence, a Study Reports:
"Gay and transgender people in all regions face discrimination and violence, including killings, rape and torture because of their orientation, and risk the death penalty in at least five countries, the United Nations said Thursday. In its first official report on the issue, the United Nations said that in addition to spontaneous “street” violence, people perceived as being members of a sexual minority may be targets of organized abuse, “including by religious extremists, paramilitary groups, neo-Nazis and extreme nationalists.”"
"Gay and transgender people in all regions face discrimination and violence, including killings, rape and torture because of their orientation, and risk the death penalty in at least five countries, the United Nations said Thursday. In its first official report on the issue, the United Nations said that in addition to spontaneous “street” violence, people perceived as being members of a sexual minority may be targets of organized abuse, “including by religious extremists, paramilitary groups, neo-Nazis and extreme nationalists.”"
Saturday, December 3, 2011
U.S. Urges Creativity by Colleges to Gain Diversity; New York Times, 12/11
Sam Dillon, New York Times; U.S. Urges Creativity by Colleges to Gain Diversity:
"The Obama administration on Friday urged colleges and universities to get creative in improving racial diversity at their campuses, throwing out a Bush-era interpretation of recent Supreme Court rulings that limited affirmative action in admissions.
The new guidelines issued by the Departments of Justice and Education replaced a 2008 document that essentially warned colleges and universities against considering race at all. Instead, the guidelines focus on the wiggle room in the court decisions involving the University of Michigan, suggesting that institutions use other criteria — students’ socioeconomic profiles, residential instability, the hardships they have overcome — that are often proxies for race."
"The Obama administration on Friday urged colleges and universities to get creative in improving racial diversity at their campuses, throwing out a Bush-era interpretation of recent Supreme Court rulings that limited affirmative action in admissions.
The new guidelines issued by the Departments of Justice and Education replaced a 2008 document that essentially warned colleges and universities against considering race at all. Instead, the guidelines focus on the wiggle room in the court decisions involving the University of Michigan, suggesting that institutions use other criteria — students’ socioeconomic profiles, residential instability, the hardships they have overcome — that are often proxies for race."
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
A Lifetime of Battling Bias; New York Times, 11/13/11
Harvey Araton, New York Times; A Lifetime of Battling Bias:
"In Richard Lapchick’s long battle against racial bias in sports, numbers have been his oral weapon of choice, reliable and irrefutable, though admittedly not the most effective means of commanding a room."
"In Richard Lapchick’s long battle against racial bias in sports, numbers have been his oral weapon of choice, reliable and irrefutable, though admittedly not the most effective means of commanding a room."
Sunday, November 13, 2011
College Diversity Nears Its Last Stand; New York Times, 10/15/11
Adam Liptak, New York Times; College Diversity Nears Its Last Stand:
"Judge Sparks in the end ruled that the Grutter decision meant that Texas was allowed to take account of Ms. Fisher’s race. Now her case is hurtling toward the Supreme Court. That could provide a fresh opportunity to consider what we mean when we talk about diversity. It could also mean the end of affirmative action at public universities.
Ms. Fisher’s lawyers filed a petition seeking a Supreme Court review last month, and legal experts say the justices will probably agree to hear it, setting the stage for a decision by June. Such a decision, given changes in the membership of the court since 2003, is likely to cut back on if not eliminate the use of race in admissions decisions at public colleges and universities.
Diversity is the last man standing, the sole remaining legal justification for racial preferences in deciding who can study at public universities. Should the Supreme Court disavow it, the student body at the University of Texas and many other public colleges and universities would almost instantly become whiter and more Asian, and less black and Hispanic."
"Judge Sparks in the end ruled that the Grutter decision meant that Texas was allowed to take account of Ms. Fisher’s race. Now her case is hurtling toward the Supreme Court. That could provide a fresh opportunity to consider what we mean when we talk about diversity. It could also mean the end of affirmative action at public universities.
Ms. Fisher’s lawyers filed a petition seeking a Supreme Court review last month, and legal experts say the justices will probably agree to hear it, setting the stage for a decision by June. Such a decision, given changes in the membership of the court since 2003, is likely to cut back on if not eliminate the use of race in admissions decisions at public colleges and universities.
Diversity is the last man standing, the sole remaining legal justification for racial preferences in deciding who can study at public universities. Should the Supreme Court disavow it, the student body at the University of Texas and many other public colleges and universities would almost instantly become whiter and more Asian, and less black and Hispanic."
Medical Schools Neglect Gay and Gender Issues; New York Times, 11/10/11
Pauline W. Chen, M.D., New York Times; Medical Schools Neglect Gay and Gender Issues:
"A study published recently in The Journal of the American Medical Association shows that the situation has not changed much for young doctors. Researchers from the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Medical Education Research Group at Stanford University School of Medicine surveyed medical school deans in the United States and Canada and asked about the curriculum devoted to topics like gender identity, coming out as gay and disparities in health care access for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender patients. While nearly all the students were learning to ask patients about the gender of their sexual partners, a majority of medical schools devoted only five hours to teaching anything more than that simple question. Fully one-third of schools allotted no time at all...
But while the federal government has recently announced several initiatives to address disparities in L.G.B.T. health care access, the study confirms that most medical schools are lagging behind. Those schools that do integrate the material into standing courses, offering electives or inviting outside experts to speak on topics like gay parenthood, lesbians’ health or the use of hormones in transitioning from one gender to the other."
"A study published recently in The Journal of the American Medical Association shows that the situation has not changed much for young doctors. Researchers from the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Medical Education Research Group at Stanford University School of Medicine surveyed medical school deans in the United States and Canada and asked about the curriculum devoted to topics like gender identity, coming out as gay and disparities in health care access for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender patients. While nearly all the students were learning to ask patients about the gender of their sexual partners, a majority of medical schools devoted only five hours to teaching anything more than that simple question. Fully one-third of schools allotted no time at all...
But while the federal government has recently announced several initiatives to address disparities in L.G.B.T. health care access, the study confirms that most medical schools are lagging behind. Those schools that do integrate the material into standing courses, offering electives or inviting outside experts to speak on topics like gay parenthood, lesbians’ health or the use of hormones in transitioning from one gender to the other."
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Obama HRC Speech 2011: President Talks Gay Rights At Human Rights Campaign Dinner; HuffingtonPost.com, 10/1/11
Amanda Terkel, HuffingtonPost.com; Obama HRC Speech 2011: President Talks Gay Rights At Human Rights Campaign Dinner:
""We don't believe in standing silent when that happens. We don't believe in them being silent since. You want to be commander in chief? You can start by standing up for the men and women who wear the uniform of the United States, even when it's not politically convenient. We don't believe in a small America. We believe in a big America -- a tolerant America, a just America, an equal America -- that values the service of every patriot."...
"I need your help to fight for equality, to pass a repeal of DOMA, to pass an inclusive employment non-discrimination bill, so that being gay is never again a fireable offensive in America," said Obama. "And I don't have to tell you, there are those who don't want to just stand in our way, but want to turn the clock back, who want to return to the days when gay people couldn't serve their country openly. Who reject the progress we've made. Who ... want to enshrine discrimination in state laws and constitutions -- efforts that we've got to work hard to oppose, because that's not what America should be about. We're not about restricting rights and restricting opportunity."
Obama also cited the White House summit he held to fight youth bullying, saying it was an issue his administration would continue to press."
""We don't believe in standing silent when that happens. We don't believe in them being silent since. You want to be commander in chief? You can start by standing up for the men and women who wear the uniform of the United States, even when it's not politically convenient. We don't believe in a small America. We believe in a big America -- a tolerant America, a just America, an equal America -- that values the service of every patriot."...
"I need your help to fight for equality, to pass a repeal of DOMA, to pass an inclusive employment non-discrimination bill, so that being gay is never again a fireable offensive in America," said Obama. "And I don't have to tell you, there are those who don't want to just stand in our way, but want to turn the clock back, who want to return to the days when gay people couldn't serve their country openly. Who reject the progress we've made. Who ... want to enshrine discrimination in state laws and constitutions -- efforts that we've got to work hard to oppose, because that's not what America should be about. We're not about restricting rights and restricting opportunity."
Obama also cited the White House summit he held to fight youth bullying, saying it was an issue his administration would continue to press."
The Freedom To Choose Your Pronoun; New York Times, 9/30/11
Jennifer Conlin, New York Times; The Freedom To Choose Your Pronoun:
"Though Google created the “other” option for privacy reasons rather than as a transgender choice, young supporters of preferred gender pronouns (or P.G.P.’s as they are called) could not help but rejoice. Katy is one of a growing number of high school and college students who are questioning the gender roles society assigns individuals simply because they have been born male or female.
“You have to understand, this has nothing to do with your sexuality and everything to do with who you feel like inside,” Katy said, explaining that at the start of every LGBTQQA meeting, participants are first asked if they would like to share their P.G.P.’s. “Mine are ‘she,’ ‘her’ and ‘hers’ and sometimes ‘they,’ ‘them’ and ‘theirs.’"
"Though Google created the “other” option for privacy reasons rather than as a transgender choice, young supporters of preferred gender pronouns (or P.G.P.’s as they are called) could not help but rejoice. Katy is one of a growing number of high school and college students who are questioning the gender roles society assigns individuals simply because they have been born male or female.
“You have to understand, this has nothing to do with your sexuality and everything to do with who you feel like inside,” Katy said, explaining that at the start of every LGBTQQA meeting, participants are first asked if they would like to share their P.G.P.’s. “Mine are ‘she,’ ‘her’ and ‘hers’ and sometimes ‘they,’ ‘them’ and ‘theirs.’"
Leaders Sound Alarm for High School Class of 2012; Diverse Issues in Higher Education, 9/26/11
Jamaal Abdul-Alim, Diverse Issues in Higher Education; Leaders Sound Alarm for High School Class of 2012:
"Dr. Henry Lewis III, president of Florida Memorial University, said one of the biggest needs in education today is for more students to get educated in the so-called STEM fields.
“I think one of the areas that we’re failing in our education system is in the STEM disciplines,” Lewis said. “I’m a scientist, a pharmacist by training, and I’m keenly aware that science-based training is what we got to have in this information age that we’re in.”"
"Dr. Henry Lewis III, president of Florida Memorial University, said one of the biggest needs in education today is for more students to get educated in the so-called STEM fields.
“I think one of the areas that we’re failing in our education system is in the STEM disciplines,” Lewis said. “I’m a scientist, a pharmacist by training, and I’m keenly aware that science-based training is what we got to have in this information age that we’re in.”"
In El Paso, a Storm Over Benefits for Gay Partners; New York Times, 10/1/11
Brandi Grissom, New York Times; In El Paso, a Storm Over Benefits for Gay Partners:
"“When you look at cities that are thriving,” Mr. Ortega said, “those cities promote a culture of inclusiveness and openness.”...
All three of the city leaders who have been singled out said they plan to fight against the recall election because they want to send a message to El Pasoans and others that the city is progressive and inclusive."
"“When you look at cities that are thriving,” Mr. Ortega said, “those cities promote a culture of inclusiveness and openness.”...
All three of the city leaders who have been singled out said they plan to fight against the recall election because they want to send a message to El Pasoans and others that the city is progressive and inclusive."
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Biracial Identity For America's Web-Slinging Hero; NPR's Tell Me More, 8/11/11
Amy Ta, NPR's Tell Me More; Biracial Identity For America's Web-Slinging Hero:
"To all the people who view this as a politically correct move or what have you, I assure you it's not," said Alonso. "Peter Parker for decades garnered fans of all races, sizes, creeds and colors. And we have no doubt that Miles Morales will do exactly the same thing. It's his heart that matters, not the color of his skin."
Alonso said what really excites him are letters from those sharing plans to go into comic stores for the first time to introduce their children to Spider-Man.
That applies to his family, too.
"I'm thrilled to be able to show Tito, my son, a Spider-Man whose last name is Morales. Call me selfish, but I think that's wonderful," said Alonso."
"To all the people who view this as a politically correct move or what have you, I assure you it's not," said Alonso. "Peter Parker for decades garnered fans of all races, sizes, creeds and colors. And we have no doubt that Miles Morales will do exactly the same thing. It's his heart that matters, not the color of his skin."
Alonso said what really excites him are letters from those sharing plans to go into comic stores for the first time to introduce their children to Spider-Man.
That applies to his family, too.
"I'm thrilled to be able to show Tito, my son, a Spider-Man whose last name is Morales. Call me selfish, but I think that's wonderful," said Alonso."
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Hollywood Superheroes Losing The Fight For Diversity; NPR's Morning Edition, 8/9/11
John Ridley, NPR's Morning Edition; Hollywood Superheroes Losing The Fight For Diversity:
"Weaver found that white audiences tended to be racially selective with regard to romantic movies, but not necessarily when it came to other genres. So, sorry, Hollywood. You can't blame it on the ticket buyers."
"Weaver found that white audiences tended to be racially selective with regard to romantic movies, but not necessarily when it came to other genres. So, sorry, Hollywood. You can't blame it on the ticket buyers."
Saturday, August 6, 2011
[Interview with Joe Quesada, Marvel Comics Chief Creative Officer] The Birth of Miles Morales; ComicBookResources.com, 8/5/11
[Interview with Joe Quesada, Marvel Comics Chief Creative Officer] ComicBookResources.com; The Birth of Miles Morales:
"[ComicBookResources.com] On a personal level, you've drawn a lot on your own Latino heritage while working for Marvel with the Santerians characters being perhaps the most prominent example. What does it mean to have a character like Miles out there so prominently for you? Is this the kind of hero you feel you didn't have as a young comic fan?
[Joe Quesada:] Back in the '60s, my family was one of the first Latino families in our neighborhood. By the time I was old enough to play with the kids on my block, our neighborhood had grown into the proverbial melting pot. On any given summer day, you could find us, a ragtag crew composed of Asian, Black, Indian, Italian, Irish and Latino kids, playing stickball or hanging out on each other's stoops. I was very lucky as a young reader. My father exposed me to Marvel comics when I was 8 years old, and the reason I gravitated to them was because of characters like T'Challa and Luke Cage. While I'm not African American, as a Latino I could sense very early on that the guys at Marvel were writing stories about my world, about my friends and about my neighborhood. So in some ways I feel I did get characters like that from Marvel -- maybe not to the level of diversity we have today, but it was there nevertheless and significantly important to me."
"[ComicBookResources.com] On a personal level, you've drawn a lot on your own Latino heritage while working for Marvel with the Santerians characters being perhaps the most prominent example. What does it mean to have a character like Miles out there so prominently for you? Is this the kind of hero you feel you didn't have as a young comic fan?
[Joe Quesada:] Back in the '60s, my family was one of the first Latino families in our neighborhood. By the time I was old enough to play with the kids on my block, our neighborhood had grown into the proverbial melting pot. On any given summer day, you could find us, a ragtag crew composed of Asian, Black, Indian, Italian, Irish and Latino kids, playing stickball or hanging out on each other's stoops. I was very lucky as a young reader. My father exposed me to Marvel comics when I was 8 years old, and the reason I gravitated to them was because of characters like T'Challa and Luke Cage. While I'm not African American, as a Latino I could sense very early on that the guys at Marvel were writing stories about my world, about my friends and about my neighborhood. So in some ways I feel I did get characters like that from Marvel -- maybe not to the level of diversity we have today, but it was there nevertheless and significantly important to me."
Sunday, July 31, 2011
My Very Own Captain America; New York Times, 7/29/11
[Op-Ed] Charles M. Blow, New York Times; My Very Own Captain America:
"So as “Captain America” ended and the credits began to roll, I managed a bit of a smile, the kind that turns up on the corners with a tinge of sadness. I smiled not for what I’d seen, but for what had not been shown, knowing that I would commit it to a column so that my grandfather and the many men like him would not be lost to the sanitized vision of America’s darker years.
This is my deed through words, for you, Grandpa. You’ll never be forgotten."
"So as “Captain America” ended and the credits began to roll, I managed a bit of a smile, the kind that turns up on the corners with a tinge of sadness. I smiled not for what I’d seen, but for what had not been shown, knowing that I would commit it to a column so that my grandfather and the many men like him would not be lost to the sanitized vision of America’s darker years.
This is my deed through words, for you, Grandpa. You’ll never be forgotten."
Monday, July 25, 2011
Diversity an elusive goal for Pittsburgh police force; Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 7/25/11
Sadie Gurman, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette; Diversity an elusive goal for Pittsburgh police force:
"Some young minorities considering law enforcement seek work outside the city entirely, said city Detective Brian Johnson, who has spoken to college groups, promoting his line of work. It's not always an easy task.
"Among some segments of the African-American community, there is still a stigma attached to being black and a police officer," he said. "My answer is always, true change comes from within. All the more reason to join.""
"Some young minorities considering law enforcement seek work outside the city entirely, said city Detective Brian Johnson, who has spoken to college groups, promoting his line of work. It's not always an easy task.
"Among some segments of the African-American community, there is still a stigma attached to being black and a police officer," he said. "My answer is always, true change comes from within. All the more reason to join.""
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Workplace Atmosphere Keeps Many In The Closet; Weekend Edition Sunday, 7/3/11
Jennifer Ludden, Weekend Edition Sunday; Workplace Atmosphere Keeps Many In The Closet:
"Sumberg also sees another force for change: Generation Y.
"We see they're coming out at a younger age," she says. "They're coming into the workplace having been out for a while. What they expect the workplace to be and how they expect their co-workers to act is going to hold companies to a higher standard."
Sumberg says it's not just employees who have much to gain. Gay- and lesbian-friendly companies will be able to retain top talent and make sure they're comfortable enough to perform at their peak."
"Sumberg also sees another force for change: Generation Y.
"We see they're coming out at a younger age," she says. "They're coming into the workplace having been out for a while. What they expect the workplace to be and how they expect their co-workers to act is going to hold companies to a higher standard."
Sumberg says it's not just employees who have much to gain. Gay- and lesbian-friendly companies will be able to retain top talent and make sure they're comfortable enough to perform at their peak."
Saturday, July 2, 2011
You Left Out the Part About ...; New York Times, 6/8/11
Ta-Nehisi Coates, New York Times; You Left Out the Part About ... :
"In print, the X-Men are an elite team culled from a superpowered species of human. The mutants, as they are dubbed, are generally handled roughly by the rest of humanity and singled out for everything from enslavement to internment camps to genocide. As if to ram the allegory home, the X-Men, for much of their history, have hailed from across the spectrum of human existence. Over the decades, there have been gay X-Men, patrician X-Men, Jewish X-Men, Aboriginal X-Men, black X-Men with silver mohawks, X-Men hailing from Russia, Kentucky coal country, orphanages and a nightmarish future."
"In print, the X-Men are an elite team culled from a superpowered species of human. The mutants, as they are dubbed, are generally handled roughly by the rest of humanity and singled out for everything from enslavement to internment camps to genocide. As if to ram the allegory home, the X-Men, for much of their history, have hailed from across the spectrum of human existence. Over the decades, there have been gay X-Men, patrician X-Men, Jewish X-Men, Aboriginal X-Men, black X-Men with silver mohawks, X-Men hailing from Russia, Kentucky coal country, orphanages and a nightmarish future."
'X-Men: First Class' reminds us we are all mutants now; Los Angeles Times, 6/5/11
Nick Gillespie and Matt Welch, Los Angeles Times; 'X-Men: First Class' reminds us we are all mutants now:
"Though populated with superpowered "mutants" such as Magneto (who is able to control all sorts of metallic objects), Storm (capable of flight and creating crazy weather), Banshee (an Irish American tenor who can kill with his voice) and Raven (a blue-skinned shape-shifter), "X-Men" perfectly captures social reality and social aspirations in a post-gender, post-racial, post-mainstream, post-everything America. The multicolored, polyglot heroes and villains of the X-Men universe may be able to communicate by reading minds rather than using Skype, and they may be able to fly anywhere without booking tickets in advance, but make no mistake: That's us up there on the screen...
Yet by and large, the X-Men learn not just how to get by but how to flourish as a community. Similarly, after many fits and starts, American society has generally come to accept plenitude, recognizing not just that mutants walk among us but that we are all mutants, with unique desires and talents that, when acknowledged and developed, lead to a vastly more interesting, exciting and prosperous world than the alternative."
"Though populated with superpowered "mutants" such as Magneto (who is able to control all sorts of metallic objects), Storm (capable of flight and creating crazy weather), Banshee (an Irish American tenor who can kill with his voice) and Raven (a blue-skinned shape-shifter), "X-Men" perfectly captures social reality and social aspirations in a post-gender, post-racial, post-mainstream, post-everything America. The multicolored, polyglot heroes and villains of the X-Men universe may be able to communicate by reading minds rather than using Skype, and they may be able to fly anywhere without booking tickets in advance, but make no mistake: That's us up there on the screen...
Yet by and large, the X-Men learn not just how to get by but how to flourish as a community. Similarly, after many fits and starts, American society has generally come to accept plenitude, recognizing not just that mutants walk among us but that we are all mutants, with unique desires and talents that, when acknowledged and developed, lead to a vastly more interesting, exciting and prosperous world than the alternative."
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Two Straight Athletes Combat Homophobia; New York Times, 5/13/11
John Branch, New York Times; Two Straight Athletes Combat Homophobia:
"Ben Cohen is a world-class English rugby star, and Hudson Taylor is a three-time college all-American wrestler. They live on opposite sides of the Atlantic Ocean. They barely know each other.
But they have something quite unusual in common. They may be the only two high-profile heterosexual athletes dedicating their lives to the issues of bullying and homophobia in sports."
"Ben Cohen is a world-class English rugby star, and Hudson Taylor is a three-time college all-American wrestler. They live on opposite sides of the Atlantic Ocean. They barely know each other.
But they have something quite unusual in common. They may be the only two high-profile heterosexual athletes dedicating their lives to the issues of bullying and homophobia in sports."
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