UW-Madison students critiqued the implementation of Plan 2008 in a question-and-answer session with Chancellor John Wiley and Provost Peter Spear as part of the Plan 2008 Diversity Forum Thursday in Bascom Hall.
Plan 2008 is a ten-year initiative at UW-Madison to increase diversity in the student population and address current issues of UW-Madison minority students. The ongoing controversy surrounding how well Plan 2008 is being implemented was the main focus of discussion.
UW-Madison freshman Joshua Hargrove said minority students are not seeing significant changes out of Plan 2008 because the administration is not taking responsibility for its implementation.
\I believe the problem is there is no accountability,"" Hargrove said.
However, some members of Associated Students of Madison said the meeting left them with the distinct impression that Wiley himself would claim responsibility for the execution of diversity initiatives.
""Wiley made it very clear that he would be held accountable if the initiatives they outlined regarding campus climate were not implemented."" Jeff Wright, ASM's Plan 2008 campaign coordinator, said.
While retention rates of minority students have increased in the past years, several students expressed feelings of discomfort and isolation due to lack of diversity.
""The problem of ignorance, racism and insensitivity is one big piece of the climate problem,"" Wiley said. ""We all have a role to play in improving campus climate.""
Andrea Wise, UW-Madison alumna and keynote speaker at the forum, recalled her experience as a minority student on campus.
""When I came here, I realized I had been tricked. Nothing prepared me for the fact that there would be so few students of color here,"" Wise said. Wise was a member of the Multicultural Student Coalition and helped create the annual Plan 2008 Forum during her four years as a student at UW-Madison.
Wise said that while students are now working more than ever to implement Plan 2008, she urged them to continue.
""The role of students cannot be underestimated. They are not going to give you what you want unless you know what that is and you demand it,"" Wise said.
Jayson Pope, another UW-Madison alumnus and speaker at the forum, helped to lay the groundwork for what today's students are doing regarding diversity on campus.
""We only have a few years left to achieve these goals,"" Pope said. He also urged students to continue work on Plan 2008. ""Students, ultimately Plan 2008 is up to you. Continue to fight and don't stop until there is respect for students of color at this world-class university.\
