{"id":115661,"date":"2022-10-20T00:04:38","date_gmt":"2022-10-20T04:04:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thecollegefix.com\/?p=115661"},"modified":"2022-10-19T14:27:11","modified_gmt":"2022-10-19T18:27:11","slug":"diversity-of-thought-event-lacked-any-conservative-voices-report","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thecollegefix.com\/diversity-of-thought-event-lacked-any-conservative-voices-report\/","title":{"rendered":"‘Diversity of thought’ event lacked conservative views: report"},"content":{"rendered":"

ANALYSIS: University reps give conflicting answers on intellectual diversity series, point to leftist panel on \u2018physician-advocacy\u2019<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

University of Michigan representatives gave conflicting answers on a promised \u201cdiversity of thought” forum, with one person contradicting his own statements within a week period. Furthermore, the panel referenced by the university appeared to only include liberal viewpoints.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs we indicated earlier, we have no further updates to share,\u201d University of Michigan spokesman Rick Fitzgerald told The College Fix<\/em> on October 12. Fitzgerald provided a similar response<\/a> in August. But on October 17 he pointed to an event on \u201cphysician-advocacy\u201d which involved no conservative viewpoints and focused on \u201cdiversity, equity and inclusion.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dean Marschall Runge first made the promise<\/a> of an intellectual diversity event in July, in the face of a controversy over the invitation of a Michigan Medicine professor\u2019s planned comments at its annual White Coat Ceremony. Dr. Kristin Collier is pro-life but did not plan to speak on the topic. Her mere beliefs in the sanctity of life triggered a cancel campaign and a walkout<\/a> by students.<\/p>\n

\u201cA forum on the importance of diversity of thought is being planned by Michigan Medicine, and additional details will be shared soon,\u201d Runge wrote on July 13.<\/p>\n

But after Fitzgerald\u2019s comments, the communications director for Michigan Medicine, Rose Glenn, reached out on October 17 and pointed The Fix<\/em> to a September 29 \u201cHealth Equity Advocacy & Social Justice\u201d event as proof of a diversity of thought event. The event is part of a series of \u201cCommunity Conversations\u201d that all involved left-leaning phrasing, according to a College Fix<\/em> review.\u00a0The Fix<\/em> emailed Dean Runge directly but Glenn responded on his behalf.<\/p>\n

The Fix<\/em> asked for clarification on the conflicting answers in an email to both Glenn and Fitzgerald, an associate vice president for public affairs. Fitzgerald, on October 17, sent The Fix<\/em> a link to a requested copy of the September 29 event, but ignored a direct question about if this event constituted the \u201cdiversity of thought\u201d forum.<\/p>\n

Glenn was not included on the follow-up email and Fitzgerald ignored another attempt on Monday to confirm the Sep. 29 panel was the “diversity of thought” forum.<\/p>\n

The College Fix<\/em> also asked for clarity on what the \u201cdiversity\u201d of views represented were \u2013 phrasing on the event used words like \u201cchange agents,\u201d \u201cstructural changes,\u201d \u201cequity,\u201d \u201cintractable racism\u201d and \u201chealthcare disparities.\u201d<\/p>\n