OPINION: UT-Tyler Should Abandon 'JEDI' Diversity
Riter Tower at The University of Texas at Tyler (Source: James Hescock) I’ve been looking through the internet lately trying to understand what the big deal is behind "Diversity, Equity and Inclusion". I did this because, back in February, Stephanie Fenter, UT-Tyler’s vice president of strategic planning, announced to student government that the draft of the university’s new strategic plan has a provision to make Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (or “JEDI”) a strategic university priority. “We are committed to growing our student body by advancing a culture that cultivates justice, equity, diversity and inclusion,” she told the student assembly. What Is JEDI? JEDI is a next step from traditional Diversity and Inclusion (DI) efforts which have been in higher education for years. It takes this same ethic—which is the equalization of outcomes—one step farther. Many regard JEDI as the next evolutionary step of social justice activism in higher education . For example, a...