Letters
Education Topic
Inspires Diversity Session
I was really impressed by your
July/Aug. issue of DiversityInc. One
of the main reasons for this is the
focus on “Fixing Urban Education.”
I believe that education is very
important for individual success and
the success of our nation. I am on
the diversity committee at HSBC,
located in Bridgewater, N.J.
We often try to hold sessions on
a series of topics that we feel affect
HSBC employees the most. I feel
we should focus on the topics discussed in this issue.
I have lived in two countries in
my life, India and now the United
States. I definitely see the differences
in the U.S. education system from
the foreign education system. I wish
that I could motivate parents to have
their kids learn more about kids
from different cultural backgrounds
or who have disabilities, as well as to
take extreme steps to improve the
education system. From reading
these articles and learning about the
significance, I want to discuss these
topics with parents here.
I have already thought of a title
for the sessions I want to hold. I’m
not sure how to get started but I
know I’ll find a way. I am so excited
about this because I know that
although I am just one individual,
I can make a difference.
Thank you for the motivation.
It’s good to know I am not alone. I
look forward to reading more exciting articles that touch us all.
Arpita Patel
HSBC Insurance Services
Bridgewater, N.J.
‘Gay Rights’ Is Misnomer
I was reading the article “Anti-
Gay Groups Go After Wal-Mart”
( DiversityInc.com, Aug. 29) and
something kept jumping out at me.
While the article was well written
and I love the work DiversityInc
does, I couldn’t help but to give my
two cents’ worth. It really bothers
me when people refer to equal
rights as special rights, or in the case
of this article, gay rights.
I’m gay and I feel there is no
such thing as gay rights. When you
put it that way, it appears to some
as if we are asking for something
“special,” and we’re not. It sounds
so much better when we say equal
rights for GLBT individuals or
equal rights for gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgenders.
Chris Ringley
Wachovia
Tampa Bay, Fla.
Lack of Black MBAs Is School’s
Fault
The question has been asked
(“Where Are the Black and Latino
MBA Students?” DiversityInc.com,
Aug. 16), the answer should be
found in the admissions process. I
graduated in 1996 and the experience I had when I applied left me
wondering, but I no longer worry,
as “the proof is in the pudding”—
not many minority MBAs.
The barrier starts at the admission office. Without faith I would
not have completed my program, as
I was put under psychological pressure. One letter I received commended me on my performance in
the program, and another letter
from the department threatened …
that if I did not receive a B+ in
every subject I would be academically dismissed.
My experience taught me if you
don’t fight to get in, fight to stay in,
and fight to finish … we will forever be asking “Where are the minority MBAs?”
Noreen Dayes
National Black MBA, member
New York, N. Y.
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