A Different Kind of Classroom Diversity, by Randall Smith

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) has become the new “god” of the university, including many prestigious Catholic universities.  Some of us privileged to teach in less prestigious universities find this humorous, since we have been teaching diverse student populations for years. At elite institutions, they brag when they’ve reached their “benchmark” of fifteen to eighteen percent “minority” and those from “traditionally disadvantaged groups.” At my own institution, we have been “majority-minority” for years.

My students’ families come from across Latin America, the Middle East, Asia, and the Caribbean. In my time at the university, I think I’ve had maybe one “Smith.”  But I have at least one or two Gonzalez’s, Perez’s, and Nguyens – in every class. …