高等院校也不能幸免于文化不宽容的困境. But, as educators of tomorrow’s leaders, 十大菠菜台子决心对抗内隐偏见, teach acceptance and create a community of inclusivity. The university strives to “advance diversity, 在机构的各个层面建立相互信任和尊重的公平和包容的环境,为所有社区成员提供机会和成功,” as established in the Oakland University Strategic Plan, Goal Four. This drive to instill these principles in students, faculty, staff and community can be seen throughout OU’s existence.
1957年,玛蒂尔达·道奇·威尔逊创建了这所大学, the Rochester area was rural, dominated by farmland. Two years later, 十大菠菜台子招收了第一位国际学生, 领导层开始认识到校园多元化的价值. In the early 60s, 密歇根大学的女性学生创建了密歇根女学生联合会
State University–Oakland, 旨在促进女学生之间的团结,并帮助培养领导素质.
In 1968, 随着艾萨克·琼斯被枪杀,种族关系的内乱蔓延到了密苏里大学, Oakland’s first black student graduate, at a local gas station. Chancellor D.B. “伍迪”瓦纳和他的同事曼努埃尔皮尔森博士.D., and other leaders on campus, 开始积极寻求在校园为弱势群体提供支持和更多机会的方法.
“这是我对你们每个人的希望,”瓦尔纳在1969年春季开放大学的毕业典礼上说,... 当你在人类事务中占据重要地位时, 你们将赋予那些长久以来只是空洞修辞的词语——正义——新的、有生命力的意义, freedom, liberty, equality, human dignity. 这些必须是所有人与生俱来的权利和财产权利, and to make this so is your high calling, your assignment, your mission above all others.”
As a result, the university hired more faculty and staff of color, 并通过强有力的招聘和桥梁项目,积极向庞蒂亚克和其他代表性不足的社区开展推广工作. 这为在接下来的几十年里创造更大的多样性和包容性铺平了道路.
During the 70s, 国际学生十大菠菜台子办公室成立, 以及通过大学的第一个“拉扎日”对西班牙裔传统的认可,” bringing Latino high school students to campus. In the spring of 1983, OU had its inaugural Handicapped Awareness Week event, 而在90年代,通过将性取向纳入学生平等机会政策,为LGB群体铺平了道路. In 2006, 这所大学为亚裔美国人社区举办了庆祝活动,以表彰亚洲文化的独特性, including Russia, Pakistan, India and Afghanistan. In the 2010s, 多元文化倡议中心启动了一个新项目——集体奥克兰保留每个人(CORE)——以帮助一年级工人阶级和其他少数民族学生在十大菠菜台子取得成功.
“佩斯科维茨总统建立多样性的行动证明了这一点, 公平和包容是大学的战略目标,” says Glenn McIntosh, 学生事务副主席兼首席多元化官, “我们认识到,培养各种类型的多样性和展示包容性对于体现我们校园社区的使命和价值观至关重要. We continue to make visible and measurable progress.”
麦金托什已经在这所大学工作了20多年, 并回顾了开放大学致力于建设文化竞争力的各种值得骄傲的地方:
Moving forward, 麦金托什寻求在这些项目的基础上建立更多的合作关系, University-wide efforts in support of gender, race, religion, thought, ethnicity, sexual orientation, veteran status, and persons with disabilities.
Discover more about the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.