School News
It is our mission to encourage real diversity at SAIC. The type of diversity that we are interested in is of a profound nature and cannot be reduced to the superficial differences that one usually sees advertised in conjunction with the word "diversity."
Ours is the diversity spoken of by John Stuart Mill when he said, "Because he has kept his mind open to criticism of his opinions and conduct ... by hearing what can be said about it by persons of every variety of opinion, and studying all modes in which it can be looked at by every character of mind. No wise man ever acquired his wisdom in any mode but this; nor is it in the nature of human intellect to become wise in any other way."
The initiative that we are embarking on is inclusive. Any type of difference, be it of gender, race, ethnicity, religion, culture, sexual orientation, any combination of the above, or any other human difference, is interesting to us, because we believe that their very presence increases the chances that the kind of honest examination that Mill was describing will be realized.
We hope to engage the student body in a productive discussion about the meaning of living with human differences as well as provide the opportunity for artists whose work deals with these values to showcase it to a wider audience. Though we are formally linked with the Office of Multicultural Affairs, we are not identical to them and so we take full responsibility for our decisions. It is our firm belief that fostering an environment in which a diversity of the nature that we have described can exist is not only good in and of itself, but is also in our best interests as creative individuals.
Stop by the Office of Multicultural Affairs, 7th floor of the Sharp Building, for more information.