Tim Burke's blog

collegialmom
Sat, 04 Nov 2006 10:04:24 +0000

The diversity or “nonwestern” requirements at some universities are really a joke, as someone in an office decides what is culturally relevant. So anywhere in Europe, including Russia or Turkey is not considered “nonwestern” at one university but as soon as you enter Africa or parts of Asia the requirement is covered. So Japan is considered “nonwestern” enough to study, but nowhere in the former USSR is, regardless of its location. I believe that administrators are only making themselves feel better by these types of canned requirements. What is Swarthmore’s requirement?

As to the explicit drawings on campus, I think they are ill-conceived because they do not seem to be enhancing respect for the gay/lesbian/transgender/bisexual/undecided sexual culture and any of its positive points politically and culturally. Instead, as one blogger implied, it only serves to stereotype these groups as mainly interested in wanton, promiscuous and/or group sex. That really acts against them politically, as I think that many gays want full marriage rights, and displaying themselves as only promiscuous wanton sexual beings acts against these movements by lending credence to some people’s theories that they want sex only, so why give them marriage rights? To me, it is just plain offensive to have these chalkings, and I think they try to make it coincide with Discovery Weekend. Very disrespectful of the visitors, and probably acts against the gay/lesbian, etc groups both politically and individually, if they care. Probably just late adolescent immaturity at its best or worst.