The Same Old Diversity Thing

Based on El Jones' story about Richard Florizone's delegation to MIT, which will surely cost us $300,000, I thought I should add another line to our table of Commissions:

DIRECTORS/COMMISSIONERS/ELECTED OFFICIALS
	Total Members	Gender		Race/Ethnic				With a disability
		Female	Male	White	Asian	African Canadian	Mi'kmaq	Yes	No
EngageNS *	14	4	10	12	0	1	1	0	14
OneNS	18	4	14	16	0	1	1	0	18
Ivany Commission	5	2	3	4	0	0	1	0	5
Halifax Partnership	23	15	8	20	2	1	0	0	23
HRM Council	17	4	13	17	0	0	0	0	17
Dalhousie Governors	27	15	12	24	0	3	0	0	27
NS Legislature	50	14	36	49	0	1	0	1	49
Waterfront Development Corporation	8	5	3	8	0	0	0	0	8
MIT REAP TEAM	9	1	8	9	0	0	0	0	9
FROM SCHOOL TO SUCCESS: CLEARING THE PATH *	17	9	8	14	0	1	2	0	17
Total	188	73	115	173	2	8	5	1	187
Percent of Grand Total	100.0%	38.8%	61.2%	92.0%	1.1%	4.3%	2.7%	0.5%	99.5%
*From a list only	Corrections Welcome

As El says "White man, white man, white man, white man, white man, white man, white man, white man, white woman. Seems a diverse representation of Nova Scotia! Nothing says “innovation” like white people appointing themselves elites and making decisions about what everyone else needs."

I have some affection for MIT, but I don't quite understand why a University President has assumed the role of regional "Champion" as they modestly say in East Cambridge.  The choice of 8 white companions says more about what's wrong with Nova Scotia than what's right.  Florizone has much to do at Dal.  Dal has made a bunch of missteps and has lost some of its shine.

The trouble with the REAP team is the symbolism, the message that the future of Nova Scotia is white, male, able-bodied.  For Florizone to be unable to grasp the problem is troubling.