Outraged students are rallying tonight to respond to rumors surrounding the elimination of the Office of Equity and Diversity and termination of Assistant Provost of Equity and Diversity Cordell Black’s position.
Though Black, a long-time professor and key diversity administrator, has tenure at this university, it is unclear whether this cut will impact his decision to stay.
“I think it’s an absolute outrage,” American Indian Student Union President Erin DeRiso said. “It’s like when they did the budget cuts before and the first thing they cut was the facets of this campus’ diversity. Dr. Black was the one to answer questions about diversity … It’s like we’re taking steps backwards; we want to keep him around.”
Whispers of the office’s disbandment formed after Director of the Nyumburu Cultural Center Ronald Zeigler met with Black on Monday, said Community Roots Co-President Kelechi Agbakwuru. Black reportedly told Zeigler his position was being cut as a part of the elimination of the Office of Equity and Diversity, which houses the Office of Multiethnic Student Education (OMSE), the Office of LBGT Equity and the Nyumburu Cultural Center. Black cited budget cuts as a main reason for the provost’s decision, Agakwuru said.
Once they heard the news, Zeigler and Nyumburu Public Relations Director Solomon Commissiong sought the help of student groups to spread awareness and organize a response.
A Facebook event appeared last night calling for action to fight what group organizers described as the systematic elimination of diversity programs and positions.
“We’re trying to figure out a solution and create an outlet where students can voice their concerns,” Student Government Association Chief of Staff Sumia Ahamd said. “We’re making sure we do have a student voice; then we take this to the administration.”
Concerned students and faculty members will have an opportunity to be heard at 6 p.m. today in the Nyumburu Cultural, Ahamd said.
Within four hours of the Facebook event’s creation, 248 people confirmed they would participate, flooding the messages boards with angry and confused comments.
Though student organizers are unsure what administrators — including Black — will attend, the university system’s student regent, Sarah Elfreth and SGA President Steve Glickman said they would be there.
“The campus community is silently being taken from us and most of us do not even know,” leaders of Community Roots wrote in the description of the Facebook event. “Student Fees are rising and Majors/Minors (such as African American Studies, Latino Studies, and others) are being taken away. Most of all the Assistant Provost of Equity and Diversity Cordell Black was just fired from his position because the university states that its ‘financial crisis’ warrants redistribution of funds and programs in order to make back the $40 million the University owes the State.”
In addition to questioning the university’s motives, students raised questions about the timing of the provost’s decision — coming just a week after the university held a diversity town hall where Provost Nariman Farvardin joined other administrators in promising to reevaluate and improve campus diversity.
Tonight’s meeting will address the rumors and encourage members of the university community to formulate a plan of action, Agakwuru said.
“[The Office of Equity and Diversity] is irreplaceable and not something that can be taken away,” he said. “It’s a strategic move by the provost and administration to give us fanfare about diversity, then behind closed doors let go of one the main leaders of the whole movement. It’s a slap in the face.”
hampton at umdbk dot com
