Rutgers-Newark Chancellor Shares Importance of Diversity

Steve Adubato goes one on one with Nancy Cantor, Chancellor of Rutgers University- Newark, to talk about the importance of diversity on college campuses and her new book “Our Compelling Interests: The Value of Diversity for Democracy and a Prosperous Society.”

2/28/17 #2018

 

 

 

 

Excerpt:

"We're pleased to be joined by Nancy Cantor who is the Chancellor of Rutgers University, Newark and one of the two editors of our compelling interest, the value of diversity for democracy and a prosperous society. Good to see you Nancy. Great to see you. It's a great city we are in. We're here at NJPAC, right? It's a wonderful city we're in. Newark, New Jersey is just such a representation of all of the opportunity and the challenges that this country faces. Sorry for interrupting. Let's talk about Rutgers, Newark as someone who knows it well, who's taught there in the past and understands the culture, but for those who may not understand, US News and World Report says that it is one of the most diverse campuses in the nation. It's more than that, but what does that mean? So, the diversity at Rutgers, Newark is phenomenal because it represents a microcosm of the diversity of this country and in fact what we all need to be paying attention to and appreciating in a positive way is the opportunity that that diversity of the next generation really needs. We have no, for example, in our institution of 12,000 students, we have no racial or ethnic majority group. We have tons of languages represented. Cultural heritages, lots of students from low income families for whom this is a real opportunity and Rutgers, Newark has been that way for generations in terms of being a place of opportunity and, you know, when I think of higher education, I think of it as the royal road to opportunity. Say that again. The Royal Road. The Royal Road to opportunity. If you think about what has built this country and its prosperity and its social value, what has built it is that each generation has put its mark by striving to prosper. Striving to have families prosper. And education's been at the heart of that. You know, we've had people come on here. We actually had someone who has been a success in social media and marketing who said, "You know what? I went to college and it was fine, but I've got to tell you something. I think I could have made millions of dollars anyway if I never went to college!" And they think it's overrated and a lot of people waste their money and save a lot of money to have their kids do it. And then we went back and forth because, you know where I'm coming from. I do. Go ahead. No, I couldn't disagree more. I mean, this country's prosperity has been built on educating each generation and providing more opportunity and in a knowledge economy..."