Last Monday, Auburn University officials announced that 17 applicants were selected for the second round of the nomination process to determine Auburn’s next two members of the Board of Trustees. The list included 16 worthy men and one, yes that’s correct, only one woman. I have an extremely hard time believing that only one female nominee out of 101 deserved an opportunity to advance to the interview stage of the process.
AL.com reported that Governor Robert Bentley, himself a conservative, Tea Party candidate elected in the Republican wave of 2010, asked the all-Caucasian male nominating committee about the lack of gender diversity among the nominees. Jimmy Rane, current board member, responded in part by saying “I’m not very politically correct.”
This issue is not about political correctness. Diversity among our Board of Trustees should not be an impediment, obstacle or a technicality. If anything, it should be a point of pride and an opportunity to improve our school. If Auburn is to continue to maintain its status as a world renowned institution of higher education, then it must have a diverse group of trustees at the helm to lead the University into the 21st century.
At a time when female students comprise 49 percent of the Auburn University student body and nationwide women outnumber men at nearly all levels of the academic spectrum, women must have an opportunity to sit at the governing table. Not for the sake of just having a female, but to enhance and enrich Auburn University. Diverse ideas, backgrounds, and perspectives are necessary to govern a broad student body.
I implore the nominating committee to take a second look at the 101 applications and select highly qualified women to advance to the next phase of the process. In fact, as a student at Auburn University, I demand no less.
*Editor's note: The quote in this letter was originally given an incorrect attribution. The quote has been fixed and is now correctly attributed to Jimmy Rane.*
Do you like this story? The Plainsman doesn't accept money from tuition or student fees, and we don't charge a subscription fee. But you can donate to support The Plainsman.
