Debate Over Multiculturalism

The Department of Social Science would like to make the public record quite clear: Buchholz’s position on multiculturalism represents his own personal views and in no way reflects the views, attitudes or sentiments of this department or of other faculty members within this department. In fact, at its March 2 retreat devoted to a discussion of curriculum diversity, the department adopted the following motion:

“The department supports efforts to develop a more inclusive curriculum reflecting increasing recent scholarship in the categories of, among others, race, ethnicity, gender and social class.”

At its meeting on March 19, the Department of Social Science passed the following motion:

“Ernest Buchholz’s recently distributed statement on multiculturalism represents pronounced racist, sexist and homophobic attitudes. Though these might represent his personal point of view, they raise serious questions about his ability to create a classroom climate in which students from diverse communities are treated with respect and impartiality. . . . If the attitudes reflected in this statement are manifested in his professional activities with students, the department will request that the administration take appropriate action.”

KATHERINE SHAMEY

Chairperson, Social Science Department

Santa Monica Community College