In a recent open letter, Dr. Carol Swain, a seasoned political science professor, has voiced her concerns over the alleged plagiarism by Harvard President Claudine Gay. Swain, whose work was among those reportedly plagiarized, has urged Harvard University to "return to sanity" and dismiss Gay for her purported transgressions.
In her letter, Swain recounts her recent experience with a job application process at a prominent western university. "A few months ago, I was invited to apply for a visiting professorship at a major university out west. As part of the application, I had to submit a mandatory diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) statement," she stated.
Swain expressed her discomfort with DEI programs, arguing that diversity can be achieved without discrimination. "It was difficult to write because I believe that all DEI programs should be abolished," Swain elaborated. She further expounded her stance in her co-authored book, 'The Adversity of Diversity,' stating, "DEI programs are divisive, and many, if not all, of the programs violate our civil rights laws, as well as the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment."
Swain is a firm believer in meritocracy, asserting that it should supersede all other considerations. "Therefore, I argued that diversity programs should share the same fate as race-based college admissions, which the Supreme Court struck down as unconstitutional last June," she wrote.
Swain clarified her support for equal opportunity, not equity, which she views as a leftist concept that adjusts outcomes based on race. "I am fervently committed to advancing diversity, equal opportunity not equity and inclusion, resulting in a policy that can promote true integration and respect of individuals in American institutions and society," she stated. Swain believes that genuine diversity is achieved through non-discrimination, outreach, and adherence to existing civil rights laws and the 14th Amendment's Equal Protection Clause.
Swain, who overcame poverty, early marriage, and motherhood to achieve success, shared her personal journey to underscore her points. "I speak as a person who started life in poverty, dropped out of middle school, married at age 16, and had three children before I turned 21," she said, adding, "And yet I found success."
In her concluding remarks, Swain emphasized the importance of personal attitude over race, gender, or social class in achieving success. "As Ive shared in the PragerU video, 'What I Can Teach You About Racism': You can start out with every advantage and waste them all," she wrote, "Or you can start out with nothing and become a success. It all depends on you. Your attitude is far more important than your race, gender, or social class in determining what you will accomplish in life."
Dr. Carol M. Swain is a Senior Fellow at the Institute for Faith and Culture and the author of The Adversity of Diversity: How the Supreme Courts Decision to Remove Race from College Admissions Criteria Will Doom Diversity Programs.
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