GSE Students Rally in Support Of Diversity

Prior to a faculty and staff meeting yesterday, students at the Graduate School of Education (GSE) gave their administrators an ultimatum: "Your final is due May 6--no exceptions," screamed one of many brightly-colored signs hanging outside Gutman Library. "Diversity does not equal numbers," read another.

Speakers at an afternoon rally, which attracted about 150 people, protested the lack of diversity at GSE and presented a list of demands they want answered by Thursday.

Students called yesterday for greater freedom of information on admissions and faculty hiring practices, discussion of diversity within the curriculum, funding for special retreats and conferences that address diversity at GSE and a new staff position whose duties focus specifically on diversity.

GSE officials after the rally said they plan on writing a response to the student demands in the next few days.

Co-organizer Vickie G. Ramos, a GSE masters candidate graduating this year, said she and rally leaders will sponsor "several other political actions" if their requests are not met.

Ramos said she and other students are frustrated by the administration's lack of action, despite a public recognition of diversity problems on campus more than two years ago.

"We needed to bring a sense of urgency," she said. "We're laying it out pretty clearly. If you didn't get it before, here it is."

To get noticed, the students blocked off Appian Way, covered the walls of buildings with posters, wrote chalk messages across the cement on the street and staged the rally to the beat of drums.

After organizers read from a student press release, reviewed the history behind their dealings with the administration and faculty and presented their demands, a series of speakers addressed the crowd.

The podium's most popular orator may have been Rev. Hugh M. Hill '48--more widely known as Brother Blue--who said he was inspired to attend because he admires the work of Eliot Professor of Education Charles V. Willie.

At one point in his speech, Brother Blue raisedhis hands and revealed slave shackles.

"We've got work to do to break these chains,"he said before swaying and singing.

Student speakers voiced their concerns in quicksuccession, emphasizing the need for more facultyof color and increased awareness of diversity inthe curriculum.

Dean Jerome T. Murphy, who was at the facultymeeting during the rally, said later he supportsthe students' decision to protest, although he maynot accept all of their demands.

Revealing some of the hiring information thatthe students have requested would violate schoolpolicy, Murphy said.

But other requests have already been answered.Murphy said a new dean will attempt to address themost recent student concerns. At yesterday'smeeting, the GSE faculty voted to change theschool's student evaluation form to includequestions about diversity. And Murphy pointed outthat of the six offers for faculty positionscurrently awaiting confirmation, three have beenextended to scholars of color.

"You take these things one at a time. We havelimited resources," he said.

Murphy said he understands the students'concerns and their point of view.

"It's a very caring group of people who feeldeeply about these subjects. They would like us tomove more quickly," he said. "We're trying to beresponsive, strengthen the curriculum and thepedagogy and the improve the environment of theschool."

In the spring of 1997, GSE issued a workingpaper on diversity, outlining the state ofmulticulturalism on their campus. Since then, thestudents, faculty and administration have had aseries of dialogues discussing minorities in theclassroom.

Students leading the rally told the audiencethat these discussions have not led to any majorchanges.

Murphy said the school has made tremendousprogress in the past few years and currently hasone of the most diverse faculties in theUniversity.

"What we're doing is not viewed as goodenough," he said. "This is Harvard. They want usto be the model."

Ramos said although GSE has made someimprovements, the faculty and administrators havenot achieved all the goals they take credit for.

"The fact remains it's the students who bringthe dialogue into the classrooms," she said. "Itdoesn't come from Harvard."

Ramos said professors complain that, to makeroom for a discussion of diversity in theircurriculum, they would have to remove crucialelements of their existing instruction.

But she said these professors do not understandwhat students want.

"It's not about having a race day. It should bean integral part of everything," she said.

Ricardo Dobles, a fifth-year doctoral student,said that over his years at Harvard, awareness ofdiversity has increased.

"There's a very negative perspective of nothinghaving been done, but I don't think any of thiswould have happened my first year here," he said.

Other students saw a greater need for therally.

"We need more than just words," said first-yeardoctoral student Sonja M. Brookins. "We need to beactive as a community.

At one point in his speech, Brother Blue raisedhis hands and revealed slave shackles.

"We've got work to do to break these chains,"he said before swaying and singing.

Student speakers voiced their concerns in quicksuccession, emphasizing the need for more facultyof color and increased awareness of diversity inthe curriculum.

Dean Jerome T. Murphy, who was at the facultymeeting during the rally, said later he supportsthe students' decision to protest, although he maynot accept all of their demands.

Revealing some of the hiring information thatthe students have requested would violate schoolpolicy, Murphy said.

But other requests have already been answered.Murphy said a new dean will attempt to address themost recent student concerns. At yesterday'smeeting, the GSE faculty voted to change theschool's student evaluation form to includequestions about diversity. And Murphy pointed outthat of the six offers for faculty positionscurrently awaiting confirmation, three have beenextended to scholars of color.

"You take these things one at a time. We havelimited resources," he said.

Murphy said he understands the students'concerns and their point of view.

"It's a very caring group of people who feeldeeply about these subjects. They would like us tomove more quickly," he said. "We're trying to beresponsive, strengthen the curriculum and thepedagogy and the improve the environment of theschool."

In the spring of 1997, GSE issued a workingpaper on diversity, outlining the state ofmulticulturalism on their campus. Since then, thestudents, faculty and administration have had aseries of dialogues discussing minorities in theclassroom.

Students leading the rally told the audiencethat these discussions have not led to any majorchanges.

Murphy said the school has made tremendousprogress in the past few years and currently hasone of the most diverse faculties in theUniversity.

"What we're doing is not viewed as goodenough," he said. "This is Harvard. They want usto be the model."

Ramos said although GSE has made someimprovements, the faculty and administrators havenot achieved all the goals they take credit for.

"The fact remains it's the students who bringthe dialogue into the classrooms," she said. "Itdoesn't come from Harvard."

Ramos said professors complain that, to makeroom for a discussion of diversity in theircurriculum, they would have to remove crucialelements of their existing instruction.

But she said these professors do not understandwhat students want.

"It's not about having a race day. It should bean integral part of everything," she said.

Ricardo Dobles, a fifth-year doctoral student,said that over his years at Harvard, awareness ofdiversity has increased.

"There's a very negative perspective of nothinghaving been done, but I don't think any of thiswould have happened my first year here," he said.

Other students saw a greater need for therally.

"We need more than just words," said first-yeardoctoral student Sonja M. Brookins. "We need to beactive as a community.