Photo By: Kaylee Estrada
Is Diversity Still an Issue?
By: Kaylee Estrada
Within the last couple of years, anti-racism movements have risen to prominence, and various institutions have been questioned regarding racism; Texas Tech University was one of them.
Coming to fruition in late 2019, a racially-charged video depicting a Texas Tech student caused Texas Tech President Lawrence Schovanec and others within the university to outline specific plans to combat not only the racist video but also a comprehensive review of various policies regarding diversity on campus.
The inclusion of “diversity, equity, and inclusion,” into sports clubs, student organizations, and Red Raider Orientation, as detailed in Schovanec’s January 2020 statement, were a few of the steps taken in response.
More than a year later, have these amendments made an impact?
Jillian Hodges, a senior family and addiction sciences major, said that while Tech has made changes, she has not seen substantial change.
President Lawrence Schovanec (Picture provided by the Office of the President)
“I have seen some racist things go on at Texas Tech. They need to be better about disciplining…it needs to be a no tolerance policy,” Hodges said. “Everyone pays the same amount to go here so we should all feel same. People should not be scared to go class and be called these words.”
Hodges said she has encountered various instances of racism throughout campus.
“Someone is always going to make a comment. No matter where you go on campus, you are going to hear one racist comment a day,” said Hodges.
According to Texas Tech institutional research 18,962 of the 35,425 students enrolled identify as white or Caucasian, accounting for 53 percent of the student body.
Jade Silva-Tovar, senior director of institutional diversity in the Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, oversees various programs and services created by the department to ensure inclusion of minority, first generation, and low-income students.
“The core tenants to what we do at the Division is to educate and empower a diverse student body,” Tovar said. “There are programs in the department that support students whether it be financial, mentoring or cultural competency.”
Aside from the changes listed in Schovanec’s statement, Tovar said there are multiple programs and events put on by the division focusing on multicultural and diversity efforts.
The Tech Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion hosts month-long events for Hispanic Heritage Month, Black History Month, Indigenous People’s Heritage Month, as well as various week-long celebration of the LGBTQIA+ community.
Katie Miller, a junior nutrition major from Dallas, TX, and president of the Gay Straight Alliance, writing what she believes makes a good ally on the pink triangular pyramid during Diversity Week. Picture by Justin Gonzales.
Dr. Miguel Levario, associate professor of United States History and Borderlands Studies in the Department of History at Texas Tech, is the director of the Committee on Diversity & Community Engagement.
Levario said the history of racial conflict and discrimination in West Texas and area of Lubbock have an effect on Texas Tech.
“Lubbock is still racially segregated, even though segregation practices are not in use anymore,” he said. “If you look at West and North Lubbock, these are black and brown communities. Many of them have never even stepped foot on campus. Even though it is in the same city, there is still a level of unattainability.”
According to the 1978 United States v. Lubbock court decision, segregation laws were in place from the city’s founding (1890) until forcibly removed by the Supreme Court on January 27, 1978.
This is 24 years after the Brown v. Board of Education decision in 1954 and fourteen years after the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Levario said there are still practices of system racism in the modern American education system.
“Schools are just as segregated now as when Jim Crowe was in effect,” Levario said. “It’s not as intentional or apparent as Jim Crowe was, but it still happens.
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