(posted 6/17/03)
Dr. James Hood Wants More Diversity at the University of Alabama

On June 9-11, 2003, the University of Alabama marked the 40th anniversary of former Governor George Wallace's infamous "Stand in the Schoolhouse Door" as he tried to block integration at the University. The historic moment was commemorated with an event titled "Opening Doors", which ironically began with a closed door, invitation-only dinner for the politically and culturally elite. "Opening Doors" was intended to show the progress the University of Alabama had made toward achieving diversity. But James Hood says that diversity has not yet been reached. He spoke with Druid City Online. Here are some of his comments ...

Druid City Online - Thanks for speaking with us. How does it feel to be back in Tuscaloosa? What is the same and what is different about the town?

Dr. James Hood - I think Tuscaloosa as a community is a great place to come no matter when it is, and the University of Alabama campus is a joy to be on. I hope the students and the University will take advantage of this opportunity to understand what has happened over the last 40 years and why.

Take us back 40 years ... contrast the difference in the hype and media attention surrounding Governor Wallace's "Stand in the Schoolhouse Door" with the reception you received from the student body once you were actually enrolled.

Most of the media attention was focused on getting a story, in terms of the conflict that existed between Governor Wallace as Governor of the state of Alabama, and President Kennedy as president of the United States. So there was that state/federal conflict that the news media was here to cover to see who was going to win. It was like "The Big Show" to see who was going to win. On the campus on the other hand, amongst the students it was a matter of trying to get on with the education you came here to get. I think that made all the difference in the world in terms of the difference between the public persona, which was produced and directed by the press, and the private persona, which was produced and directed by the students. In a sense, I felt more like a student when I got away from the public press as opposed to being inside that little bubble where everybody is looking at you. When I became a student in the dormitory, I became just another student. Everybody wasn't looking. Everybody wanted to be "just another student" and that was important.

How long did it take to get to that point? Did the bubble just burst all of a sudden and then you were "just a student"?

The first day I got to Palmer Hall, I became a part of Palmer Hall. I was a student who lived in Palmer Hall, but I was also a U of A student. I think that made a difference to me in terms of acceptability. The students were more welcoming. They went out of their way to make sure that I understood that I was just like everybody else in the dormitory and that I was going to be treated that way.

What's the first memory you have of walking into Palmer Hall?

A round of applause from the students who were there. I had not known there were going to be students in the building when I got there, and fortunately they decided they were going to stay around until I came over. They waited until I got there to welcome me so that I would know that at least WE were going to be a family no matter what happened on campus.

In the past 40 years, how do you think the University of Alabama has progressed on diversity issues?

I think the University has made a great deal of progress. However, I am very critical of the administration and the Board of Trustees because I think many of the successes that have occurred on this campus have been the result of student action, faculty and staff action, but not administrative direction. And to me, if an institution is going to make a change, in particularly an institutional change in terms of its climate, it has come the chief administrators ... the President of the University and the Board of Trustees. Those things have not happened. I looked at the U of A web page at the President's (Robert Witt) message, and not one mention directs any activity toward diversity. There's a diverse population on this campus and a diverse culture on this campus The President and the administration need to address that. If it isn't addressed, how is it going to be dealt with?

There are residents at the University from more than 200 different countries. Obviously, folks have found a way to get along. How do you see that happening?

As I said, I think that is much to the credit of the faculty, staff and the students. Once people are given the opportunity to realize their common interests, they will find a way to make that common interest a bond. They need leadership and they need direction. As I said, the administration could do a great deal to promote more of that. It's going to happen anyway in spite of the administration, but I think it would be enhanced if there was an administrative mission statement or strategy that said "By the year 2005, the University of Alabama will have as diverse a population as we can have among faculty, administration and students, and do something about making that happen.

You mentioned "common interests". Do you think people of different cultures have a hard time identifying and recognizing what their common interests are?

Over the period of time that they're here, I think people are able to explore that if they desire. The point I'm trying to make is that unless they have an encouragement from higher up ... i.e. the administration ... it won't happen as often as I think it could happen. It's going to happen on its own. As people begin to interact that's just an automatic "networking" that will take place. But it would be nice if you knew that you had the support of the administration. I think a lot of it would happen a lot faster.

What specifically would you like to see as more of an overt gesture toward diversity?

One thing I'd like to see is a vice president whose responsibility it is to recruit and maintain a diverse population, whatever that means. Someone who would address all the issue related to those populations. As you said, we've got more than 200 groups on this campus. Whose responsibility is it to deal with some of the problems they are encountering? What is the University doing or not doing that it should be doing?

And finally, what is the high point of the Opening Doors commemoration for you?

The opportunity to come together and decide "Where do we go from here?" and "What's going to happen over the next 40 years?" We now know where we've come from the previous 40. Now what's ahead of us in terms of society, in terms of an institution and in terms of a community?

Without major change, what is ahead for the University in your opinion?

The University is going to survive regardless of whether it is responsible for its own change or not. But I think change is going to take place, and whether the University is in control of that change is the issue it needs to face. Social change is going to take place. It's taken place all over America and all over the world. The question is "Are we going to be involved as an institution in the changes that will impact us in positive or negative ways? Until we can answer that question, I think the University will get along as it has for the past 40 years ... with the benefit of having good faculty and good students who are willing to try and make a difference.

Thanks so much for your time.

Thank you.

click here to hear the original interview aired on Alabama Public Radio

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