Diversity numbers to celebrate

The trouble started after then–Western Washington University president Bruce Shepard asked in a blog post how the campus could ensure it was “not as white as we are today.” The question was a reference to the simple fact that Washington was becoming more diverse—or, put another way, less white—and a public university should reflect that changing demographic. The question wasn’t a one-off. During a commencement speech, Shepard stated that if the campus did not grow more diverse, it would be a failure of the administration. In a country still not really comfortable talking about race, Shepard’s comments felt like a provocation to many, and the president (who is white) was savaged by right-wing commentators—not to mention discussion-board commenters—who constantly stand at ready alert against the supposed attacks liberalism seeks to launch against white America.