The College Fix

‘Each student has at least one identity group that gives them power over their peers’

Students enrolled in the Indiana University course “Understanding Diversity in a Pluralistic Society” were required to “reflect” on how their (alleged) privilege “oppresses” so-called “subordinate groups.”

The course purports to “cover theories and models that enhance understanding of our diverse society.”

According to The Washington Free Beacon, students in the class were given a chart (below) with three columns: “Examples of Manifestation of Social Oppression,” along with examples of “dominant” and “subordinate” groups.

Included in the first column are “heterosexism,” “racism,” “sexism,” and “religious oppression.” As such, if one is a straight, white, Christian male, that would be a quartet of privilege.

This final assignment of the course, worth 26 percent of a student’s final grade, mandated a “reflection” on the supposed fact that “each student has at least one identity group that gives them power over their peers and another that leads to their oppression.”

“Self-awareness of identity, as well as experiences of privilege and oppression, serve as the basis for understanding the complexity of identity and how you can address issues of oppression,” the instructions read.

A “submission form” was provided by instructor Colleen Rose on which students could “share concerns” they had about the assignment.

One student in the class related how they had to “make something up” to complete the assignment.

MORE: Student speaks out against ‘Christian privilege’ display at Indiana university

“I’m being punished through an assignment for my identity as a person, and that’s just crazy,” the student told the Free Beacon. “I had to make something up and I don’t enjoy doing that.”

“It’s very rich that in a class where we are supposed to be talking about identity and not suppressing identity, I’m forced to suppress my own identity,” the student added. “I have to suppress myself because I’m presumed to be some privileged, horrible human being that didn’t grow up without food. That’s insane to me.”

The report notes the course fulfills IU’s “social and historical studies” requirement, but (oddly) does not cover the College of Arts and Science’s “diversity in the United States” requirement.

According to her faculty bio, Rose (pictured) is a licensed social worker who worked with AmeriCorps and “leads student-based initiatives at the Center for Rural Engagement.”

Two years ago, Rose wrote about “strength-based advising for social justice” in which she said it’s “particularly important” for academic advisors from “historically privileged groups” (white, male, straight) to be aware of their biases “toward certain skills, values, and talents.”

MORE: ‘Race and ethnicity’ center loses funding at Indiana U.

IMAGES: Shutterstock.com; Owen Gregorian/X; Indiana U.

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