"Diversity Training" in Name Only

To the editors:

As a member of the Radcliffe Crew Team, I attended the Athletic Department’s mandatory diversity training last Wednesday night. I found the training session to be very poorly done, indeed, highly problematic, and came away deeply disturbed. The next morning, I was excited to see the Crimson article entitled “Athletes Criticize Diversity Training,” believing that the article might address some of my content concerns; however, the article gave only brief reference to the actual message of the presentation and focused instead on some individual athletes’ gripes about being “singled out” for diversity training (News, Feb. 13). The fact that the Crimson focused on this aspect of the training is itself a relevant issue—in fact it’s an ironic example of stereotyping and prejudice—but I think that the deeply flawed nature of the presentation itself is an issue of far more pressing importance. The training session included the singing of the national anthem (with athletes of other nationalities present), and discussion of America as a superior nation to which people turn when they lose hope in their own countries. The presenter, Elaine Penn, read lists of stereotypes and derogatory terms without directly addressing or refuting any of them—and laughed along when some elicited cheers from audience members. Although she mentioned that people subscribe to many different religions, Penn suggested that we go to our ministers for support. She even sang an original song about how her faith in Jesus helped her overcome the adversity she encounters because of her homosexuality. On the whole, I found the presentation simplistic, patronizing, and expressive of a remarkably white/American/Christian perspective. Indeed, I’m concerned that it may have been more harmful than helpful, confirming a sort of paternalistic moral superiority on the part of these privileged groups.

As a member of the Harvard community at large, I recognize that the awareness and acceptance of diversity is of crucial importance to us all. Indeed, I wish that annual diversity training were mandatory for the entire student body and not only for athletes. But, please, next year, bring us a high-quality program that will challenge us to see the world from new perspectives, not a misguided program such as we had that implicitly confirmed prejudicial views.

Elisabeth W. Lambert ’04

Feb. 17, 2003

The writer is a member of the Radcliffe Varsity Crew Team.