Ferguson Effect: USC Passes ‘Diversity’ Resolution

The University of Southern California student senate passed a controversial “diversity” resolution Tuesday evening–the latest example of the “Ferguson effect” that is seizing campuses around the nation.

The resolution calls for $100 million, and possibly more, to be spent on mandatory diversity classes in an attempt to create an “inclusion climate” on campus.

The resolution passed with 11 votes in favor and one against, with only Senator Jacob Ellenhorn opposing the resolution. On Facebook, Ellenhorn posted that although he stood alone, he “stood proud” for refusing to be part of the perpetuation “of a damaging culture of victimhood that is currently destroying college campuses across the country.”

During a previous meeting, members of the student body had shouted “impeach now” at Ellenhorn and others who criticized the bill.

“I think it’s very disappointing that we’ve shown our true colors, that we want to play identity politics,” said a USC student and fraternity president in a heated exchange with USC Senate President Rini Sampath.

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Sampath, who is of Indian descent, was the main push behind the campus diversity resolution after she was allegedly called a racial slur by a drunk member of a fraternity. Many on campus saw the incident as isolated. However, it became the impetus for student protests similar to those that have been taking place throughout the country.

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The diversity resolution’s latest version asserted that the $100 million would not be taken from student tuition. One student even suggested spending less money beautifying the campus–i.e. forgoing planting red and yellow flowers–and using that money towards funding diversity programs.

Still, the $100 million figure was not sufficient for all. Richard Aviles, local community organizer and prospective student, said the student Senate should have negotiated from a higher place. “I think the $100 million could have been $500 million [or even] $1 billion,” Aviles said.

According to facts and figures from the 2015-2016 academic year, the school’s student body is 18 percent Asian, 5 percent Black/African-American, 34 percent White/Caucasian, and 24 percent “international,” with 7 percent listed as “other.”

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