Comments on: Art students create mural at Sylvania Campus that celebrates diverse scientists

By: s

Tue, 31 Oct 2017 06:46:17 +0000

It’s a great artwork as long as you see it optimistically.

By: Ted Picciotto

Ted Picciotto — Wed, 25 Jan 2017 22:19:21 +0000

“As the faculty member responsible for starting the project, I hear the concerns voiced in these comments with respect to inclusiveness. I think it’s great that everyone wants to feel included and connected. We, unfortunately, were not able to include examples of successful scientists for many race/gender combinations. The mural also lacks diversity in terms of sexual orientation or transgender individuals. The impetus behind the project was to “expand the view” of what a successful scientist looks like even if we were unable to include all race/genders/orientations.

As a white male, whenever I feel people are trying to exclude me, I always try to put myself in other people’s shoes. For example, say you are a student in the physical sciences, but you are not a white male, and notice a very narrow range of gender and race in the scientists discussed in class. Would the lack of diversity in the field be discouraging? As textbooks in the physical sciences tend to highlight the accomplishments of white males, we didn’t feel our students would struggle in finding white male role models.

This does not mean life cannot be full of barriers and struggles for white males or that we should not help everyone the best we can. It just means for this project, we assumed that our students would already had exposure to scientists of that particular background.

I hope this information helps you feel less excluded by this project. We care about all of our students and their perception of potential success. I appreciate you expressing your feelings and I would be happy to talk about it more in person.

Best, Ted Picciotto

By: Jman

Jman — Wed, 18 Jan 2017 15:47:55 +0000

I think BH raises an important point, that diversity should include people who are white. But they are always excluded. If “whiteness” is a social construct that normalizes being white, then this is a good example of further normalizing having white skin as everything else is “diverse”. We need to be inclusive and not exclusive.

By: Justin Peek

Justin Peek — Mon, 16 Jan 2017 20:09:08 +0000

I personally don’t understand why anyone has a problem with sis gendered anyone, I don’t care who people are attracted to, I don’t care who people get into sexual relationships with and I don’t give a damn about the color of peoples skin quit judging people, move on with your lives, and start doing something to help… Love you all. A concerned student.

I personally enjoyed reading all of the accomplishments of those scientists.

By: A

Fri, 09 Dec 2016 17:43:30 +0000

Reply to both, B.H and JBB,
This is just a mural at a community college for crying out loud. You kids are community college students. Just enjoy the pretty colors and continue on with your day. Please stop whining about it, because it really does not affect you in any way possible (no matter your race, sex, or sexual orientation). It’s just a nice painting of some scientists, so get on with your life.

PS You should be studying for finals instead of complaining on a website, because your priorities will be reflected in your grades.

By: Becky Olson

Becky Olson — Thu, 01 Dec 2016 00:05:15 +0000

I think it’s important to note that this project isn’t attempting to say who is valuable or not valuable, or whose contributions are worth painting about… it’s really just trying to highlight women scientists and scientists of color whose contributions to research have really been lost to history.

It’s a fact that today, women and people of color are overwhelmingly underrepresented in science careers (and have been historically). I think it’s great that this mural is raising awareness that science is for (and should continue to be) a field of interest & study for everyone.

By: B.H

B.H — Wed, 30 Nov 2016 21:23:18 +0000

I appreciate the reply JBB, although I’m not exactly sure what you were trying to say. I just couldn’t find a cohesive statement in your writing. I did pick up on the fact that you assume anybody who; 1. Identifies as the sexuality which they were genetically born 2. White ( I’m gonna guess you generalize whites as European) and 3. Is a Male. Is incapable of having an opinion or more precisely incapable of having an opinion that isn’t racist because those 3 things combined mean? And if I’m CIS gender white male how is that different from JUST being a white male? Does the fact that I am biological male that also identifies as a male mean something ? Just wondering, seriously. This probably isn’t the forum but, I’m amazed how often I hear those three things combined and how it’s synonymous with BAD. Isn’t that the opposite of the leftist message of tolerance, peace, unity , diversity, love , peace etc. I’m sure PCC will pull this but I am interested in the mindset that diversity will only be achieved once CIS,white,males are excluded.

By: JBB

JBB — Wed, 30 Nov 2016 07:14:28 +0000

Reply to B.H,
I think the mural looks great, nice artwork. So, at the risk of sounding cynical it’s interesting this was inspired after a diversity conference. I notice your depiction of diversity excludes white males. In fact the general message of “diversity” in the u.s now means “no white guys allowed” . Considering that, by current estimates less than 10℅ of the human population is European, whites and approximately half of that is male I can’t see why pushing aside white males is progress towards diversity. We’d be on the endangered species list of we were animals. Otherwise, good job toeing the line PCC”
GOOD TO KNOW YOUR PRIVILEDGE ENABLED YOU TO COMPLAIN AGAINST THE ONE THING YOUVE EVER MISSED OUT ON IN YOUR LIFE BECAUSE OF YOUR (I ASSUME) CIS-WHITE-MALE STATUS.

By: B.H

B.H — Wed, 30 Nov 2016 00:41:08 +0000

I think the mural looks great, nice artwork. So, at the risk of sounding cynical it’s interesting this was inspired after a diversity conference. I notice your depiction of diversity excludes white males. In fact the general message of “diversity” in the u.s now means “no white guys allowed” . Considering that, by current estimates less than 10℅ of the human population is European, whites and approximately half of that is male I can’t see why pushing aside white males is progress towards diversity. We’d be on the endangered species list of we were animals. Otherwise, good job toeing the line PCC