As a student on this campus and a community member, I am appalled by the Emerald’s selective printing of Friday’s opinion article by Jessica Derleth entitled “Diversity extends beyond skin color” (ODE, Feb. 24). Basically, it looks like Derleth walked by last Monday’s protest in support of retaining Professor Martin Summers and overall retention of faculty of color, got a flyer and wrote an opinion article without any real understanding of the facts.
Derleth expresses that race should not be a factor in this situation. The reality is that race is a factor in every aspect of our lives. We have privileges and marginalization in this society simply based on our race, as well as other factors that make up cultural diversity. If Derleth had stayed at the rally and listened to student after student speak about the quality of Summers’ teaching and his positive impact on their lives, she would have better understood the serious effects his leaving will objectively have on campus. She would also have heard the clear message from students that recruitment and retention of faculty of color is part of this university’s alleged and expressly stated commitment
to diversity.
It is necessary to achieve a critical mass of students and faculty of color to attract greater cultural diversity that indisputably benefits all students with broader educational experiences; if there is no critical mass or significant increase in cluster hires of faculty and staff of color, then our isolated and tokenized few or lone representatives from underrepresented groups lead to faculty alienation and departure. The evidence speaks for
itself. When high-quality scholars from underrepresented backgrounds continue to leave the University and are not recruited and hired, and promises by the University remain empty, word spreads. This means that fewer students and faculty of
color will come to the University. This is a major issue on our campus right now.
By printing Derleth’s opinion piece without printing the recently submitted piece by the Multi-
cultural Center, or even contacting the Multicultural Center to offer
another side, the Emerald is not providing balanced opinions, and is objectively contributing to a racist climate on campus and showing a clear lack of support for faculty and students of color and from other marginalized groups.

D. Cohen is a University senior in the Family and Human Services Program

Editors Note:
Jessica Derleth’s commentary regarding Professor Martin Summers ran before a letter from the Multicultural Center on the same subject because Derleth’s column is a regularly scheduled feature, because of space constraints and because of the chronological order of letters to the editor received. The Emerald generally runs letters in the order they are received.