The student government at the University of California-Berkeley takes intersectionality very seriously.
That’s why it yanked back its nomination of a white female for the directorship of the campus sexual-assault commission, The Daily Californian reports.
Meghan Warner has served as the director for the past year – you may remember her bizarrely leading a protest against a sexual-assault conference – and she was “the only candidate being considered,” until diversity activists complained.
Ignore the plural pronouns in reference to Alana Banks, who identifies as queer but has been identified with feminine language up through this summer:
University and External Affairs Committee Chair and CalSERVE Senator Alana Banks voiced their concerns about the selection process at the senate meeting, primarily regarding the lack of diverse applicants the committee received. The senate ultimately passed a motion to reopen applications for an additional two weeks, with an emphasis on publicizing the applications among a variety of student groups.
According to Banks, who aims to represent underrepresented-minority communities on campus, some of their constituents approached them after the nomination was announced and voiced concerns about not being aware of the application process.
Posted by Office of ASUC Senator Alana Banks on Friday, July 31, 2015
It’s not clear whether Banks wants nonwhite, LGBTQ or both types of candidates in consideration for the position. (Warner’s sexuality isn’t mentioned.)
Not only are the commission’s “underrepresented” members complaining about the snub to Warner, but so is the Daily‘s editorial board, which says whoever is now confirmed will lose “valuable experience during the first month of the semester”:
In the beginning of the fall semester, new students are still adjusting to the alcohol and party culture of college and may not know what affirmative consent means. Now is a crucial time for the student leadership in the commission to work to support survivors and educate peers. …
The absence of diverse applicants indicates a lack of awareness of the application process among various communities. But if the senate wanted more applicants to consider, it should have actively publicized the position sooner rather than vote to do so on the night of the sole candidate’s confirmation vote.
The interim director approved by the Senate is also associated with a campus political party, which raises “questions of bias and conflicts of interest” in what’s supposed to be a nonpartisan position, the editorial states.
Read the story and editorial.
Like The College Fix on Facebook / Follow us on Twitter
IMAGE: Shutterstock
Please join the conversation about our stories on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Reddit, MeWe, Rumble, Gab, Minds and Gettr.