Tag: politics

Equal Learning Environment April 19, 2016

Dialogue Over Demagoguery

Jerry Kang • April 19, 2016

Back in November 2015, someone put up hostile posters that targeted two student organizations — the Muslim Student Association and Students for Justice in Palestine. Although posted anonymously, an outside provocateur named David Horowitz eventually took credit.

Tags: politics , religion

Equal Learning Environment November 25, 2015

Hateful Posters

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.

Tags: discrimination , politics , religion

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)

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.