Dive Brief:
- University of Oklahoma President David Boren was commended for his swift and forceful action against fraternity members engaging in racist behavior, and several university presidents have responded similarly on their own campuses since then.
- Inside Higher Ed outlines a shift in higher education, moving toward immediate consequences for students rather than promised investigations.
- Some groups, however, are arguing due process and speech rights are violated in these cases.
Dive Insight:
Inside Higher Ed describes examples of racism and sexism at colleges and universities across the country that have been exposed in recent weeks. Virtually all of the incidents represent activity that seems to show patterns of behavior rather than single comments or actions. As university presidents bring attention to these actions and make the consequences very public, the entire university community is being exposed to the actions themselves — if they were not in the first place. The public punishments have served an important benefit, however. They have allowed campuses to catalyze discussion of important issues that are very real in society and in schools.