Response to "The Ivory Tower Paradox" by Stockdill & Danico
Hee Ae (Esther) Han
Section A01

     Although many progresses have been made as a result of a collective effort for women's rights, minority rights, and LGBTQ rights, the sad reality of America today is that sexism, racism, and homophobia are all still ingrained in society. The ironic hit of the news that professors Stockdill and Danico present in "The Ivory Tower Paradox", is that the very institutions preaching social revolution, educational advancement, and multicultural diversity practice male, white, and heterosexual domination.

     While it’s acceptable and encouraged for students to tout political correctness, take classes on ethnic or women’s studies, and bounce from community resource center to LGBTQ support groups, these activities are limited to the confines of the classroom. These fronts are merely that: ‘fronts’ that cover the underlying issue of systematic hegemony. It is a more subtle “system” that makes it difficult to point out inequality. Despite the fact that women comprise half of the population, only a small fraction—around 20%, make it to tenured positions.  The number dwindles even further when other factors such as ethnicity or sexuality are taken into account. With all the women’s centers, ethnic courses, LGBTQ/community centers, and multicultural organizations available and running in universities, why do these numbers continue to reflect a marginalized society? Racism and prejudice didn’t simply go away, it just got smarter. This ties in with Professor Valverde's mentions of hegemonic ploys of the 1% to dangle a promise at the end of a conveyer belt, with just enough crumbs to keep rebellion at bay. This is the new slavery, the new racial segregation: student debt loans equating as the new indentured servitude, glass ceilings barring minorities from administrative positions or promotions, and faculty members fearing career losses if they speak out against inequality.

Question: how do we take the first step of cognitive “awareness” of universities to the next course of “authentic activism” beyond campus conversations? 

Picture pulled from: http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/career_magazine/previous_issues/articles/2002_01_25/nodoi.7900867231599505905