As its work ends, ours begins. When, two years ago, President Richard H. Hersh proposed that the Colleges assess their commitment to diversity, Debra DeMeis knew she had her hands full. A social scientist and dean of William Smith, DeMeis could see the challenges in the assignment she had been given.
Diversity is a topic that sparks debate and confusion.
It went to work. Last fall, the DTF presented findings to President Hersh, who studied them carefully over the December break and then distributed copies to everyone on campus. That completed almost two full years of work. But, as the DTF disbanded, its members had learned already that diversity is a topic about which the Colleges care very much - which didn't necessarily make their job any easier. I had a na ve understanding of what it would be about.