It’sveryinterestingtonotewherethedebateaboutdiversity(多样化)istakingplace.Itistakingplaceprimarilyinpoliticalcircles.HereattheCollegeFund,wehavealotofcontactwithtopcorporate(公司的)leaders;noneofthemistalkingaboutgettingridofthoseinstrumentsthatproducediversity.Infact,theysaythatiftheircompaniesaretocompeteintheglobalvillageandintheglobalmarketplace,diversity.Infact,theysaythatiftheircompaniesaretocompeteintheglobalvillageandintheglobalmarketplace,diversityisanimperative.Theyalsosaythattheneedfortalented,skilledAmericansmeanswehavetoexpandthepoolofpotentialemployees.Andinlookingatwherebirthratesaregrowingandatwherethepopulationisshifting,corporateAmericaunderstandsthatexpandingthepoolmeanspromotingpoliciesthathelpprovideskillstomoreminorities,morewomenandmoreimmigrants.Corporateleadersknowthatifthatdoesnotoccurinoursociety,theywillnothavetheengineers,thescientists,thelawyers,orthebusinessmanagerstheywillneed.
Likewise,Idon’thearpeopleintheacademysaying.”Let’sgobackward.Let’sgobacktothegoodolddays,whenwehadameritocracy(不拘一格选人才)”(whichwasnevertrue-weneverhadameritocracy,althoughwe’vecomeclosertoitinthelast30years.)IrecentlyvisitedagreatlittlecollegeinNewYorkwherethecampushasdoubleditsminoritypopulationinthelastsixyears.ItalkedwithanAfricanAmericanwhohasbeenaprofessorthereforalongtime,andsheremembersthatwhenshefirstjoinedthecommunity,therewerefewerthanahandfulofminoritiesoncampus.Now,allofusfeeltheuniversityisbetterbecausecorporateboardroomsoroncollegecampuses.