Student Rejected for Diversity Post Because He is “White”

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May 17, 2013

By Todd Starnes

A Northwestern University student was rejected for a diversity and inclusion post in student government because he is a white, heterosexual male, resulting in a rebuke from the university’s student newspaper.

Northwestern University’s Associated Student Government rejected the nomination of Stephen Piotrkowski for associate vice president of diversity and inclusion last week.

“Piotrkowski was rejected on the basis that he is a white, heterosexual male,” the Daily Northwesterneditorial board alleged in a staff editorial.

The outgoing vice president for diversity and inclusion had endorsed Piotrkowsi as the best candidate for the job – noting that he identifies with a religious minority and has a sister who is gay.

And Campus Reform reported that he had previously served as a member of the Northwestern Inclusion Task Force – created last year to help advocate for campus diversity.

“The fact that senators did not take Piotrkowski’s relevant experiences into consideration and rejected him on the basis of race, gender and sexual orientation symbolizes a step backward for our community in diversity conversations,” the newspaper noted.

Piotrkowski’s nomination sparked a heated discussion during an ASG meeting – described by a student reporter as “contentious.”

“This university is not ready, in any capacity, for a heterosexual white male to be in charge in any way of diversity and inclusion,” said Ian Coley, a member of the diversity committee. “I don’t know if any university is.”

ASG president Ani Ajith refused to answer questions about the matter. When asked by Fox News if he agreed with Coley’s remarks, Ajith hung up his phone.

Jesse Seltz, a student government senator wondered if Piotrkowski’s skin color would help his nomination.

“When you’re forced to work with all these multicultural groups that are, for the most part, not made up of white males, do you think you have the perspective that is not their perspective, to bring to them?” he asked in remarks reported by the Daily Northwestern.

A Northwestern University spokesman said they were aware of the incident but did not provide a statement.
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