Gender bias an issue that should be examined
Issue date: 3/31/06 Section: Opinion
Unfortunately for the world, bias really is prevalent in all aspects of life. People have opinions about things, meaning they are biased against the other points of view. In politics, if people do not support a particular national political party, Democrat, Republican or otherwise, then technically they are bias against those parties they do not support.
Why is this important?
Well, this week Alan Levy, a professor of history here at Slippery Rock University, went to Harrisburg and appeared on the Pennsylvania Cable Network (PCN), where he accused SRU of practicing gender bias. Although his claims may have appeared unsubstantiated, he went to Harrisburg to let his voice be heard, apparently because he felt his voice wasn't being heard here. If it's true the administration did not allow him to have his voice heard, then the administration is demonstrating bias, and that is unacceptable at a public university. One of the beauties of the First Amendment is that free speech is allowed. It's up to the public to decide whether it wants to listen to the opinion. At least respect the right of a person to have an opinion, even if you don't agree with it.
However, if people are going to speak on behalf of a university, they should do it in a way that represents their campus. Don't air the dirty laundry of the university that has given you your paycheck and allowed you to earn a living over the years.
This also brings up the issue that was prevalently discussed during Levy's rant, and that is the issue of gender bias. It's sad that in 2006, there are still some people who discriminate solely on the basis of race or gender. Get real. If the university is practicing that on any level, it's an embarrassment to SRU.
It's a complicated issue, and one that really can't be proven. There won't be any concrete proof that will clearly say gender bias is or isn't happening.
In the hiring process, universities are required with state and federal laws to make every effort to get qualified women and minorities hired on their campus. Those are fine laws, but they have to be carefully looked at by the administration. The best people need to be hired for the job, but diversity needs to be practiced, even if quality has to be slightly sacrificed. The hiring committee in a particular department must be careful that blatantly under qualified candidates are not being hired simply because they are a certain gender. If that's happening, the university is cheating students of the best education they can possibly get.
One of the things the university needs to do is practice merit with diversity. The university needs the best possible people to teach the students here, yet have enough diversity to accurately reflect the diverse student body Slippery Rock University is trying to mirror to the public.
At The Rocket, we feel that merit is more important than diversity, but a gender bias is never good at a public university in the State System of Higher Education.
Why is this important?
Well, this week Alan Levy, a professor of history here at Slippery Rock University, went to Harrisburg and appeared on the Pennsylvania Cable Network (PCN), where he accused SRU of practicing gender bias. Although his claims may have appeared unsubstantiated, he went to Harrisburg to let his voice be heard, apparently because he felt his voice wasn't being heard here. If it's true the administration did not allow him to have his voice heard, then the administration is demonstrating bias, and that is unacceptable at a public university. One of the beauties of the First Amendment is that free speech is allowed. It's up to the public to decide whether it wants to listen to the opinion. At least respect the right of a person to have an opinion, even if you don't agree with it.
However, if people are going to speak on behalf of a university, they should do it in a way that represents their campus. Don't air the dirty laundry of the university that has given you your paycheck and allowed you to earn a living over the years.
This also brings up the issue that was prevalently discussed during Levy's rant, and that is the issue of gender bias. It's sad that in 2006, there are still some people who discriminate solely on the basis of race or gender. Get real. If the university is practicing that on any level, it's an embarrassment to SRU.
It's a complicated issue, and one that really can't be proven. There won't be any concrete proof that will clearly say gender bias is or isn't happening.
In the hiring process, universities are required with state and federal laws to make every effort to get qualified women and minorities hired on their campus. Those are fine laws, but they have to be carefully looked at by the administration. The best people need to be hired for the job, but diversity needs to be practiced, even if quality has to be slightly sacrificed. The hiring committee in a particular department must be careful that blatantly under qualified candidates are not being hired simply because they are a certain gender. If that's happening, the university is cheating students of the best education they can possibly get.
One of the things the university needs to do is practice merit with diversity. The university needs the best possible people to teach the students here, yet have enough diversity to accurately reflect the diverse student body Slippery Rock University is trying to mirror to the public.
At The Rocket, we feel that merit is more important than diversity, but a gender bias is never good at a public university in the State System of Higher Education.
