Equal Learning Environment March 21, 2016

Principles Against Intolerance

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Jerry Kang • March 21, 2016

The Regents Working Group on Principles Against Intolerance recently released its Final Report. Responses are coming in fast and furious, across multiple media. It’s a good time for another CrossCheck. Most important, here’s the actual Report.

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Equal Learning Environment March 16, 2016

Piterberg Matter

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Jerry Kang • March 16, 2016

Higher education is confronting the serious problem of sexual harassment. The issue constantly hits the headlines, and the University of California is not immune. Even on our own campus, a lawsuit filed against Prof. Gabriel Piterberg has shined a harsh light.

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Equal Learning Environment November 25, 2015

Hateful Posters

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Jerry Kang • November 25, 2015

This has been a breathless quarter for higher education. Just on our campus, consider: “Kanye Western”; #BlackBruinsMatter (which triggered the launch of this CrossCheck platform); the Regents’ Working Group on Principles Against Intolerance (with anti-Semitism taking the limelight); hateful posters targeting student organizations.

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Equal Learning Environment October 13, 2015

Kanye Western

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Jerry Kang • October 13, 2015

Many of you have heard about last week’s “Kanye Western” party hosted by Sigma Epsilon Phi and Alpha Phi. Many of you have also heard my impromptu comments at the #BlackBruinsMatter rally. Waiting for the mic, outside of Kerckhoff Hall, I witnessed firsthand the pain and anguish on the faces of our African American students.

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crosscheck

[v. kraws-chek, kros-]
verb (used with object)

  • to determine the accuracy of (something) by checking it with various sources
  • Ice Hockey. to execute a cross-check on (an opponent)

About

Should it matter that we’re talking about equity, diversity, and inclusion at UCLA – a world-class, public, research university? Absolutely.

We are an institution of higher learning. That means we need to be both emotionally brave and intellectually sharp. We need to learn and never presume that we know all the answers. We need to challenge our preconceptions and be willing to go beyond soundbites, caricatures, and slogans. We need to “up our game,” because the world has grown far more diverse, complex, and conflicted. The way we used to talk about these issues was not good enough back then. Certainly it isn’t good enough now. We need to disrupt the same, worn scripts lest we enter an infinite loop of recriminations. That’s what CrossCheck is intended to.

Inspired by the #BlackBruinsMatter rally in Fall 2015, I launched this platform to help move the dial on how we think and talk about equity, diversity, and inclusion in the University. The first entry about Kanye Western provides more of that origin story.

Some have told me this gambit is risky. They caution me that this isn’t what senior administrators are supposed to do. I’m mindful of that advice. But I think it’s riskier to continue with business as usual. So, take a look. I welcome your engagement.

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