February Brings Openmindedness, Inclusion, New Curriculum
Published February 7, 2012
STAFF EDITORIAL
Like our University, the Michigan Journal supports and encourages diversity and inclusiveness in the educational process.
We are comprised of a diverse staff, representing various cultures and races, and both men and women. We have the firm belief that to be able to convey news equally to a diverse and open-minded student body, we must hold the same true to our own composition.
February is proving to be a great month for embracing diversity. February is Black History Month, which began its tradition in 1976. Black History Month evolved from Carter G. Woodson’s Negro History Week, which was created in the 1920s.
On Friday, UM-Dearborn’s community of Chinese students welcomed over 300 students, staff and faculty to celebrate the Chinese New Year with them.
The students in attendance, who represented the diverse student body of UM-Dearborn, celebrated the Chinese Year of the Dragon alongside the University’s Chinese student body. The event represented the diversity and inclusion our University is so proud of.
A change embracing diversity taking place in our own curriculum is the new Arab American Studies minor.
Many universities have programs similar to the Arab American Studies program here at UM-Dearborn, such as developed Arabic Language programs and Middle Eastern Studies programs.
What is unique about our University, however, is that we are the first American university to offer an Arab American studies minor, focusing specifically on the history, culture, and evolution of Arab American society.
This program will add yet another building block of diversity to the ever growing University of Michigan-Dearborn.
In the current discouraging political atmosphere, where it is increasingly apparent that politicians will turn a blind eye to the diversity that our nation should treasure and instead exploit the differences of Americans in a negative way, it is comforting to see that our University can remain independent of the immature ideological back-and forth plaguing the government.
Centers of higher education such as UM-Dearborn are good indicators of our nation’s future. However politically divided the country may be now, if our universities remain inclusive and accepting of different cultures, ideologies, religions, and races, there may be hope for the future yet.
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