1. First, a bit about DEI at Rice University:
Welcome to Rice University’s Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Our office seeks to support and guide the university in fulfilling its mission of cultivating a diverse community of learning and discovery by facilitating a campus environment that promotes diversity, inclusion and academic achievement through active engagement with all areas of campus life.
At Rice, we view diversity, equity and inclusion as a central and meaningful part of the overall university experience. We believe these values increase the vitality of everything we do – education, scholarship, service and community.
2. “Tiffany Xiang shares passion for Chinese heritage with other Rice students,” Rice University Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, October 18, 2021:
Tiffany Xiang is a Will Rice College junior from California studying Computer Science. They enjoy dancing and activism, and they’re trying to get more into fashion. One fun fact about Tiffany: The best boba she’s ever had was at a shop called “The Alley” in Tokyo….
To me, diversity and inclusion are freeing. I grew up not really accepting my culture and heritage. I didn’t realize it until later but this rejection had always been in the way of my happiness, my growth and my overall wellbeing. Now, being able to fully embrace and participate in my heritage, I feel a freedom to enjoy the things I want to enjoy and to be proud of who I am.
3. “About the Vice Provost,” Rice University Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, n.d.:
Alexander Byrd was appointed Vice Provost for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in July 2020. In that role, Byrd provides high-level strategic leadership for diversity initiatives and coordinates offices across the campus to help create one point of responsibility for all programs and efforts around diversity.
4. “Multicultural Center (MCC),” Rice University Multicultural Center, n.d.:
Welcome to Rice University’s Multicultural Center (MCC). Our team coordinates and implements educational, cultural, and social programs that empower student success and create a sense of belonging for students from historically underrepresented communities.
As we adapt to emerging issues, Our hands-on approach Empowers cultural student organizations through administrative and leadership support, Educates individuals on expanding cultural knowledge and appreciation, confronting prejudice, and understanding systemic oppression, Inspires the campus community to celebrate inclusion by understanding and appreciating differences, and Cultivates unwavering student success allies….
5. “Francis Sampson finds community in Rice’s Black student organizations,” Rice University Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, October 18, 2021:
Francis Sampson is a Martel College junior majoring in Mechanical Engineering and minoring in African and African-American Studies. A Houston native, he enjoys playing saxophone in his free time and dancing, especially to Afrobeats. Francis is a member of a wide variety of student organizations at Rice, including the Rice Black Male Leadership Initiative (BMLI), the Rice African Student Association (RASA), the Rice Black Student Association (BSA), The Impact Movement of Rice University and the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE). In the near future, and driven by his involvement with those organizations, he is considering a career in engineering diversity….
Diversity, equity and inclusion are important to me, especially from my stance as a Black student at a predominately white institution. I know the significance of finding your specific communities at Rice, and really wherever you go, and I am truly blessed to have found that within the Black community at Rice. My Black experience is important and I value having a space to share that. I would love for more spaces to be made available for students of color to feel comfortable sharing their experiences at Rice as well.
6. “Initiatives,” Rice University Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, n.d.:
Commitment to Cultural Inclusiveness
Rice seeks a community that embraces a breadth of knowledge, thought, perspectives, experiences and backgrounds and enables us to achieve excellence in all facets of our mission. Campuswide, we are developing knowledge, insights, resources and policy tools to increase equity and improve quality of life, in Houston and around the world.
This means examining the resources and strategies needed to make all students successful. It means looking at different ways of promoting healthy communities and delivering healthcare. It means understanding the ways our policies, laws and culture allocate privilege and promote success.
Rice is prioritizing initiatives and programs that promote equity. From consulting directly with Houston public schools, to designing low-cost health technologies, to offering free online college textbooks — Rice students and faculty are leading efforts that bypass traditional roadblocks and deliver knowledge and practical solutions to the people who need it.
CHEM 125 – Afrochemistry: the Study of Black-Life Matter
Description
Students will apply chemical tools and analysis to understand Black life in the U.S. and students will implement African American sensibilities to analyze chemistry. Diverse historical and contemporary scientists, intellectuals, and chemical discoveries will inform personal reflections and proposals for addressing inequities in chemistry and chemical education. This course will be accessible to students from a variety of backgrounds including STEM and non-STEM disciplines. No prior knowledge of chemistry or African American studies is required for engagement in this course.
Recent Professors
Brooke Johnson
Preceptor (Chemistry)
Dr. Brooke Johnson joined the DEI team as a Preceptor after obtaining her Ph.D. in chemistry from Princeton University (‘23). Rice alum (‘17) and former Rice track athlete, Dr. Johnson is passionate about the intersection of science and social justice and using her unique experiences to teach, support and inspire diverse students.
CommonSenseChris says
Heaven help us all… especially when these people graduate and enter their professions with these biases. Especially when you need a Chemist, and you accidentally hire an Afrochemistry Major.
I remember being in college during the Carter Administration Affirmative Action days. You would question whether the staffer, Doctor, nurse, etc was in their role because of skill or because of skin color. I’m back to wondering about that frequently now.
Also – if I was a Donor to Rice – who is paying for all of this Overhead? These expensive DEI staffers aren’t teaching anything. They are “supervising” and “overseeing”. = Wasteful overhead. It just helps Rice Virtue Signal that they pay many more black people as DEI Administrators. Wasteful.
Taffey says
I have a black friend who is a physician and graduate of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in an engineering discipline. He earned everything in his life on merit. He is extremely teed off because his practice is played by people coming to him, saying that he is black, and then leaving. If everybody had to legitimately compete for admission to college and medical school, this public perception of doctors making it into the profession because of your color would disappear.
mgoldberg says
‘oh sing loud cuckoo… mockingbird wish me luck’
I don’t remember where I read that line… but… I do admit to feeling exactly like the line, having read the above ‘all to diverse’ word salad coming out of DEI at Rice University.
Biggles says
Shouldn’t that be ‘all too diverse word salad’?
Kuffar says
Sounds gripping…
somehistory says
Tiffany says the school has helped her so she can say she is proud of ‘Who I am’…but, evidently, she doesn’t know her pronouns as the school calls her “they.”
She states she didn’t care about her “culture” until she attended Rice and found out that her “culture” makes her special. Once she knew that, her culture is all important.
All those differences in background and culture make all of the students feel “included.”
And “equity.” When “They” don’t see the same results as all the other students, the whining can ensue.
Biggles says
equity as opposed to debt? 😉
somehistory says
From another university in the U.S.
“A professor facing a federal antisemitism complaint reportedly plans to leave her post at a D.C. university for a job in Qatar.
Lara Sheehi, assistant professor of clinical psychology at George Washington University (GWU), left her job after she faced allegations of mistreatment toward her Jewish and Israeli students in a mandatory diversity graduate course she taught, the College Fix reported. ”
“mandatory diversity graduate course.” She has fulfilled what is said about those who “can’t do; teach.” Obviously, she doesn’t want the “diversity” of Jewish students.
“her “work takes up decolonial and anti-oppressive approaches to psychoanalysis, with a focus on liberation struggles in the Global South.”
Sure it does. the article has a lot more about this biased antisemitic ‘professor.’.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/professor-accused-of-antisemitism-leaves-u-s-for-job-in-qatar/ar-BB1h9frM?ocid=msedgntp&pc=HCTS&cvid=2161a5d3a5fe45d191bf06b1e569661e&ei=76
࿗Infidel࿘ says
What is “Afrochemistry”? If an atom of African carbon combines w/ a molecule of African oxygen, then we get a molecule of African carbon dioxide? That?
somehistory says
That or the special hair and skin products one can find in stores where such products are sold; various chemicals combined to care for the hair, skin and nails of people with dark skin and who may/may not wear the “afro” do.
tgusa says
This article requires the GIF, not this **** again.
https://tenor.com/view/cat-funny-gif-14842341522959796616
Beneath the Veil of Consciousness says
What a tortured commingling of diverse areas of study. Identity politics at its finest. RIP: MLK.
Fran says
Real academia is DEAD!
deze MN bee says
Wonder what they would say about the pioneer chemist Lavoisier who went to the guillotine not because he was bad at science but because he had been a venal tax-and-customs agent. Enough there to feed the ravenous maw of diversity for several semesters.
And yeah, Steve Jobs dropped out of Rice University. He wasn’t kicked out of Rice because he kept parking his car in Diversely Special Safe Zones; his politically incorrect parking habits came later.