At times like this, people and organizations show where their true priorities lie.The College Fix reports:
Public university creates high-ranking diversity position, exempts from COVID-19 hiring freezeSome things are more important than fiscal prudence in a time of plummeting university income. Namely, an associate vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion.James Madison University made an exception to its COVID-19 hiring freeze this term by creating the new Student Affairs position, President Jonathan Alger told the community Friday morning in an email announcement forwarded to The College Fix.It’s not clear whether the Virginia public university previously announced, outside of job search websites, that it was hiring its first ever AVP of DEI, to use the jargon of higher ed. The Fix found no news coverage on the subject.Every job listing The Fix found said the position had been deleted or was no longer available. The earliest posting for the job appears to be March 24, and that one was closed on June 4, suggesting JMU did not get the applicants it wanted.Friday’s announcement, which posted this afternoon, is titled “Racial Equity Actions and Campus Building Names: Update.” Alger begins:
Issues of systemic racism that have long plagued our nation, and in particular laws and practices that have suppressed the rights of Black Americans, are at the forefront of national and international attention. Members of the JMU community have actively participated in discussions and actions near and far, insisting that real change and reform are needed and reminding us of the hard work ahead for us all. During these extraordinary times, we want to acknowledge the stress, pain, anger and overall burden within our Black community and our overall stress as a JMU community as well. Along with other institutions in society, it has been and will continue to be our responsibility and commitment to address disparities within our community moving forward.
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