No longer was it possible to deny that SIUE, like virtually every public university in the United States, had some serious problems of intergroup relations and unequal opportunity. Unfortunately, the Edwardsville Intelligencer editorial seems to have missed the key reality that solving these problems requires a commitment of resources. People must be trained on how to work and teach effectively in a diverse environment. Major corporations such as Monsanto have recognized this long ago, and have found that a commitment of resources to training pays for itself in improved productivity. The training, however, will cost money - there's no way around that.
Training always does.
But if done right, it will move us toward a campus where everyone feels accepted and valued, and is encouraged to achieve to his or her maximum potential - without being put down by intentional or, more often, unconscious and unintentional slights. The curriculum also will need to be modified and updated. No longer is it acceptable to teach our students only about the art, literature, and accomplishments of European males, nor is it acceptable to whitewash the destructive actions Europeans have sometimes taken against indigenous peoples in the Americas and around the world. Unfortunately, at SIUE as well as most other colleges and universities, both of these things still often happen. To change this, there must be an advocate with influence and status in the University.