Committing to affirmative action and diversity

By Gerald Bepko, Interim President of Indiana University

As one way to respond, the IU Board of Trustees voted last month to restate Indiana University’s commitment to affirmative action. “In reaffirming this policy, which has served us well, we must advocate and perpetuate performance which reflects this commitment. We must and will hold ourselves accountable for our decisions and actions,” the trustees’ resolution says.

Those words are a reminder of an important truth. Promoting a diverse and welcoming environment is a job for all of us. Charlie Nelms, Indiana University’s vice president for student development and diversity, often makes this point. Dr. Nelms is an able and experienced leader. But he does not want to take charge of the effort to build a more diverse university. Instead, he wants us all to take charge. This is very much a shared responsibility. 

In the 1960s, America saw how a large group of people committed to equal rights could make change happen. The civil rights movement resulted in new laws to guarantee equal opportunities and voting rights. But we all know that is not the end of the struggle. 

As we prepare students for the world they will face in the 21st century, the focus on diversity has never been more important.

Studies done at the University of Michigan show that a diverse student body and faculty help all students learn better; such an environment takes us out of our comfort zones and exposes us to different, sometimes challenging, points of view. Recently, more than 40 major companies announced they were backing the University of Michigan on the affirmative action issue; the business leaders say those programs help develop better employees of all races and ethnicities and reflect the realities of the global marketplace. 

Indiana University remains committed to the goal of attracting and retaining a more diverse group of students and faculty. We do that for many reasons, which, in the end, all boil down to one—because it is the right thing to do.