By Brian Massie, Citizen Journalist
Dr. Morris W. Beverage, Jr. is President of Lakeland Community College. Here is his latest “Morris Musings” distributed to the employees.
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From: Morris Beverage <MBeverage@lakelandcc.edu>
Sent: Sunday, April 9, 2023 3:31 PM
To: Morris Beverage <MBeverage@lakelandcc.edu>
Subject: Morris’ Musings
Greetings.
Sometimes we see something happen, but we don’t understand why or how it happened. To provide clarity, we may draw conclusions from other events or actions which might help us make sense of what is happening.
For example, twenty thousand years ago, a volcano erupted. Duke, a human living at that time, did not understand geology, thus didn’t know what was taking place, and incorrectly may have concluded that the ‘gods’ were angry.
I think that confusion surrounding the creation by the board of trustees of a committee to study the words diversity, equity, and inclusion, may have led to erroneous conclusions across campus. Honestly, it’s easy to see how it happened. Like Duke, we only have what understandings we believe to possess, upon which to draw conclusions.
So, let’s look around and see what context exists, from which we might draw conclusions. There are some in this country who believe colleges and universities attempt to, or seek to, indoctrinate their students to one political ideology over another. With that in mind, when the board of trustees decided to examine the words diversity, equity, and inclusion, some on campus may have been unclear and, based upon the information they had at the time, may have drawn the conclusion that some on the board believed that there was an attempt at Lakeland to indoctrinate our students to favor one political ideology over another.
When I became aware of this, I shared with the members of the board the confusion, and concomitant conclusions reached by some on campus. This led to a very productive discussion at the board’s most recent meeting, at which the individuals on the board assured that no such belief exists – that no member of the board of trustees believes that there is an attempt to indoctrinate students at Lakeland Community College.
I hope this musing helps clarify the intent of the college’s board of trustees.
As always, thanks for all you do to impact lives through learning.
Morris.
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Dr. Beverage stated in his musings:
“There are some in this country who believe colleges and universities attempt to, or seek to, indoctrinate their students to one political ideology over another.”
Gee, we wonder where that thought process could have started about Lakeland? Could it have been this “volcanic eruption” that took place at a September, 2022 Board of Trustee meeting from a teacher with 27 years at Lakeland.
Dr. Beverage, you cannot deny that Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity is the cornerstone of Lakeland’s teaching. You were there when this took place and said nothing. You and the other board members let this employee berate a board member.
We completely disagree with you! You have allowed a leftist ideology to enter fabric of the college. There is an attempt at Lakeland to indoctrinate the students to favor one political ideology over another.
This will be Dr. Beverage’s legacy, along with declining enrollment, and a college that failed the local business community.
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Categories: Education, Lake County - General, Uncategorized