Ariel Zilber, Daily Mail, March 16, 2021
Columbia University has been slammed for ‘bringing back segregation’ after announcing additional commencement ceremonies for students based on their ethnicity, income level, and sexual orientation.
The six virtual ceremonies, which will be staged in addition to the general campus-wide commencement event, were announced by Columbia’s Multicultural Affairs department.
Special events are being held for black, LGBTQ, Native, ‘Latinx’, low-income, and Asian graduates.
But the university insisted these ceremonies are ‘voluntary’ and ‘open to every student who wants to participate’ – even those that do not identify as one of the designated minorities – in a statement to DailyMail.com.
The ceremonies will provide a more intimate setting for students and guests to gather, incorporate meaningful cultural traditions, a spokesperson for the Ivy League school said.
We Hear You: Black Lives Matter Threatens Our Schools
Commentary By
Ken McIntyre, a 30-year veteran of national and local newspapers, serves as senior editor at The Daily Signal and The Heritage Foundation s Marilyn and Fred Guardabassi Fellow in Media and Public Policy Studies. Send an email to Ken.
Editor’s note: Jarrett Stepman’s commentary on a Black Lives Matter curriculum infiltrating public schools struck a chord with The Daily Signal’s audience. Here’s a sampling of the response. Remember to write us at [email protected] Ken McIntyre
Dear Daily Signal: I am concerned that the doctrine of Black Lives Matter in schools, described by Jarrett Stepman in his commentary, actually will pour gas on the flames of racism and add fuel to a more racist approach to education (“Activists Outline Plan to Push Agenda of Black Lives Matter in Classroom”).
The White Caucus event at Elon University slated for next week, was intended to allow white allies to speak openly about systemic oppression without re-traumatizing people of color .