KRISTIN MELODY
STAFF WRITER

A Diversity Matters Forum addressed the importance of diversity of students and staff, but Cal State San Marcos professors and community spokespeople alleged “double-speak” from presenters.

President Karen S. Haynes and Chief Diversity Officer Willie “Derrick” Crawford held the Diversity Matters forum to explain their belief of diversity and open conversation for questions and concerns of the community on Feb. 16, 2012.

Haynes emphasized diversity as a way to strengthen the campus and to teach students how to interact in the world. CSUSM has “almost half of the entire student body as minorit[ies], that’s 5,000 students,” Haynes said.

“Diversity comes in a variety of forms… [CSUSM is an] inclusive campus for all meanings of diversity,” Haynes said.

Crawford explained his five-year plan for diversity which included changes in curriculum and staff diversity composition in order to be pragmatic and broaden the meaning of diversity.

Professors and some students questioned how this talk would be put into action during these tough financial times.

Professor Marisol Clark- Ibáñez of the Sociology department questioned where the resources are coming from when there aren’t any to give. Clark-Ibáñez is the program coordinator for the Ethnic Studies minor; she stated she only receives $1,060 annually for the program.

Crawford’s five-year plan for diversity is due to President Haynes late this spring. In the meantime, CSUSM faces economic challenges, a 60:40 ratio of women to men and a growing awareness of diversity.