Penn State backs away from past diversity plans

The administration says work that followed widespread protests in 2020 was “not a formal university effort.”

The administration says work that followed widespread protests in 2020 was “not a formal university effort.”

View this email in your browser GIVE NOW, GET THE MATCH  PENN STATE ALERT    December 16, 2022 Spotlight PA provides alerts of its latest investigative and public-service reporting about Penn State University. Support this service and as a special bonus, all contributions to Spotlight PA will be DOUBLED until Dec. 31 » If you were forwarded this alert, you can subscribe here. BACKING AWAY More than two years after Penn State solicited the expertise of its faculty and staff to address racism and bias on campus, a new administration is distancing itself from those employees and some of their recommendations. In addition to canceling a planned Center for Racial Justice, the university has declined to release a report on another diversity proposal and characterized faculty subcommittees set up by former President Eric Barron as unofficial. A confidential document obtained by Spotlight PA's Wyatt Massey also raises new questions about how at least some on the university’s Board of Trustees viewed the former president’s plans, which included launching the center. The document asked “whether teaching America’s exceptionalism remains a core objective at Penn State” and suggested a study of the university’s history and racism would “end up as a little-used library resource.”    READ THE FULL STORY This vital accountability reporting can only continue with your support. Make a gift to Spotlight PA and help us keep powerful institutions like Penn State honest and transparent. As a special bonus, all contributions until Dec. 31 will be DOUBLED. Give now » GIVE NOW, GET THE MATCH Photo by Georgianna Sutherland for Spotlight PA. Spotlight PA is an independent, non-partisan newsroom powered by The Philadelphia Inquirer in partnership with PennLive/The Patriot-News, TribLIVE/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review and WITF Public Media. Copyright © Spotlight PA / The Philadelphia Inquirer, All rights reserved. Spotlight PA 228 Walnut St., #11728 Harrisburg, PA 17108-1728 newsletters@spotlightpa.org This email was sent to: <<Email Address>> You're receiving this email because you subscribed to alerts about our Penn State coverage. You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.