Susan Wright, Ph.D.’s Post

During my first semester at Rice University, I actively participated in RISE, a program that aims to equip future leaders with the skills of Responsibility, Inclusion, and Student Empowerment. While taking part in the program, I was interviewed by the Texas Tribune about my perspective on the Black Rice Experience. This was my first news feature, and I would appreciate it if you could take the time to read the article, which is linked below!

When I teach about bias, which I did last Monday and have done every semester for at least one of the Introduction to Negotiations sections at Loyola Law School, I discuss this reality at the very outset. There is no training, certification, or licensure that can cause people to develop “self-other awareness,” which is essential for people to keep their biases in check. “Self-other awareness” can be learned and developed. However, it isn’t through osmosis because it was taught. “Everybody knows that a one-off event for Black History Month or a singular diversity training won’t teach students to see the world through an antiracist lens. The same is true for bridge building. Offering an elective in constructive dialogue or hosting an inter-department conversation in response to a major global conflagration won’t fundamentally teach students to empathize with each other.” https://lnkd.in/gSbtJPXE

An interesting book to add to your reading list. "Late Admissions: Confessions of a Black Conservative" From the article: - As the onslaught of recent humiliations has belatedly helped demonstrate to the public, higher education is in a state of crisis at best, the institutions having long since incentivized silly sophistry that might as well be scrawled in crayon over actual truth-seeking. - But hopefully, this important book, and The Glenn Show, will long provide a beacon of what grown-up discourse can really be. Vote policies, not party Stay strong, stay free

A summary of the testimony I’ll be submitting to Congress re antisemitism in higher ed: antisemitism is odious wherever it exists, good diversity work is essential for the American project, campuses are an ideal place to model pluralism. In @Deseret https://lnkd.in/gewFw7H4

This short piece by Eboo on the importance of fostering pluralism on campuses outlines what needs to be done. Let’s all double-down on this work. www.engagedpluralism.org

Sometimes this work is about asking the "hard" questions. When making the decision to attend an academic institution, Black students must ask themselves questions that non-Black counterparts may not even have to think about. How will I handle being in a predominately white and/or male environment? Am I safe in this learning environment to express my honest opinions and thought? What will I do if someone's perspective challenges my identity and being? Will I find community? These are questions I asked myself before going to Cornell University: MPA Program - Cornell Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy. Fortunately, I was greeted by a warm and supportive community, however, I had to make a mental decision before deciding to attend an ivy league to prepare for the worst-case scenarios: isolation, otherness, and challenges to my overall ability to perform. These are the hard realities that academic institutions must work to address if they want to continue to build and retain diverse program cohorts. In the meantime, diverse students will need to continue to navigate these systems in order to achieve. I believe that the #ClaudineGay case will have major impact on the participation of Black and diverse individuals in choosing to attend or pursue academic career paths at elite or Ivy League institutions. However, we cannot be distracted from the big picture. Tonight, what I found most inspiring in this conversation with Heather and Ryan from HKS was the willingness to ask, answer, and explore the hard questions. As we continue in this work, there is power in humble, open, and transparent ("HOT") dialogue. We cannot fear speaking truth to power. I look forward to what is to come. Further, together. Harvard University Harvard Kennedy School Executive Education Black Professionals in International Affairs - BPIA #highereducation #partnerships #blackprofessionals #DEImatters #Harvard #HarvardUniversity #academia #truthtopower #education #college #gradschool #HKS #HBS #publicpolicy #community #culture #opportunities #careerdevelopment Bobby King, M.A. Sierra Bracero

When I raised concerns to the #ucberkeley Provost Ben Hermalin about antisemitism, he told me: how can Berkeley have antisemitism when there are so many Jewish deans, faculty, and even a Jewish Provost. It’s similar to how when I raised concerns to the Acting Dean Jenny Chatman at #berkeleyhaas about her initial refusal to condemn Hamas terrorism, the first thing she said to me was: I get it, I’m Jewish too. Being Jewish (or not being Jewish) has nothing to do with her initial refusal to condemn terrorism. Chancellor Christ’s interview appears tone deaf to what’s actually happening on the ground on campus. In October, two Jewish students have been physically assaulted when expressing their Jewish identity. Why won’t the campus investigate the assaults as anti-Jewish hate crime? In December, another Jewish student was robbed in his home and left a note that read “f*ck Jews.” The university called this hate, but did not specify this as anti-Jewish. They had no qualms specifying anti-trans and anti-Asian American hate differently. The Chancellor’s interview failed to account for the role of the university administration in enabling a culture of violence and hostility. When policies are not enforced, or when accountability is absent when such policy is violated, then bad actors learn to continue their behavior. Hence, despite the university’s efforts to stop political indoctrination, students—including engineering students—are being taught by teachers during class time Hamas war propoganda. How is this acceptable? With 100% certainty, I can ask this question: why does it appear that in certain situations, Jews are being treated differently by the university administration? This, to me, has nothing to do with hollow statements—this is anti-Jewish discrimination.

Thank you, Ileana Najarro for sharing how effective Black history teaching can look like in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. As the leader of The Association for Teaching Black History in Kentucky, I was honored to share my perspective on this topic. Check out this article by Education Week to learn more about how AP African American Studies can work in Kentucky. #blackhistory #education #Kentucky #teaching #AfricanAmericanStudies

“Black men are coming into education more than any other demographic. But they are leaving the profession at higher numbers...that’s cause for pause and soul-searching.” Learn how Rictor Craig and the National Association of Black Male Educators (@nabmeinc) are working to guide young Black male educators in DC as they grow into outstanding educators and exceptional leaders for all of DC’s students in our latest blog: https://bit.ly/4aD60Xu

The University of California, Berkeley motto is Fiat Lux! The light is that of knowledge and learning. Well done by Cal Chancellor Carol as she makes sure Cal leads the nation, as it always has in higher learning! Some key quotes: "We had two faculty members here, Ron Hassner and Hatem Bazian, and they wrote a letter together to their students, saying, We disagree about everything; we vehemently disagree, but we have always treated each other with civility and respect, and this is what we are asking of you." Civility and respect are the Berkeley way. I was always able to argue with other students and then go have drink afterwards. "I knew how critical it was to do whatever we had to to allow very conservative speakers to be able to speak on campus without being shouted down, without their event being cancelled, without riots happening. And so we took extraordinary measures." This is the Cal way: I may completely disagree with you but I will defend your right to say what you want. The 1st Amendment is paramount and Cal stands by it. "While I will refrain from criticizing or second-guessing the presidents who appeared before Congress, the aftermath offers ample evidence of the perils and challenges higher education is facing at that intersection of free speech, diversity of perspective, and the essential import of civil discourse for strong campus communities. At Berkeley we have been grappling with some of these issues for years if only because as a public university we have far less discretion than private institutions when it comes to First Amendment compliance. At Berkeley we would strongly condemn any advocacy for genocide against the Jewish people. And our response to that hate speech would not stop with condemnation. This campus can and will discipline hate speech not protected by the First Amendment. Any speech not protected by the First Amendment would, by definition, violate the Student and Faculty Codes of Conduct. And, even if that hate speech was protected, it would not stop Berkeley from strongly condemning it and marshaling the university’s educational resources to address the evil and the ignorance at the heart of any call for genocide against the Jewish people. Yet, I am certain that even this commitment—which is as far as we can go under the law—will sound far from sufficient to some, and an unwarranted over-reaction to others."