Mixer: Campus Activism Roils the Southland

Today, Occidental College President Jonathan Vietch announced some steps he’s taking in the wake of protests on campus over lack of diversity and racism at the school.

To be sure, Occidental — in the past — has ranked very high on lists of the most diverse liberal arts schools across the country.

But Vietch responded to demands on campus by saying the school will increase funding for the school’s Office of Intercultural Affairs, create an oversight committee on diversity and inclusion, and also create a Campus Safety Advisory Committee.

Protesters have been demanding Vietch step down.

That’s exactly what the dean of Claremont-McKenna College did last week, and the president of the University of Missouri did the week before.

To help us make sense about the wave of campus activism sweeping across a number of the nation’s campuses, Jason Song, who covers higher education for the LA Times, and Elias Isquith with Salon Magazine joined us for the Mixer.