While the University has been less successful than it would like, Virginia Tech nevertheless is determined to realize its goals of equity, diversity, and access. We are committed to these goals because they are essential to the fulfillment of our historic land-grant mission and intrinsic to the pursuit of excellence in instruction, research, and public service. The importance of these goals may be obvious, but sometimes we forget, I believe, the principles behind our actions or even wonder whether or not this is the right course, after all. I would like, in this statement, to review the principles, as I understand them, and explain why we have set such strong affirmative action goals and why diversity will benefit the University. I speak from a strong belief in both equal opportunity and affirmative action and with a clear sense of the difference.
Every person is given an equal chance for employment and enrollment.
Each individual is judged on his or her individual merit. Sex, race, ethnic background, religious affiliation, political persuasion, sexual persuasion, physical condition or appearance, and age have no bearing. We welcome all and will judge those who come on their merits as individuals. That is where affirmative action comes in. Affirmative action differs from equal opportunity.