The faculty panel included Professor of English and Black Studies Rhonda Cobham-Sander, Professor of History and American Studies Frank Couvares, Assistant Professor of Religion Alec Irwin, Assistant Professor of Computer Science Scott Kaplan '95 and Professor of Classics Rebecca Sinos.
Kaplan spoke about the importance of bringing different perspectives to bear on academic issues. "Science is really all about the creative use of metaphor," he said. "If everybody came from the same background, we'd all have the same solutions and get stuck on the same problems."
The College has seen a huge increase in ethnic diversity among the student body over the past 18 years, Couvares said, while not witnessing a similar shift in the faculty.
"That's the place where maybe we've done less well," he said.
But Couvares added that ethnic diversity is just one of the many factors the College must consider when considering applicants for faculty positions. "We could have people who look different but don't have different ideas."
Lincoln Mayer '04, speaking to a perceived imbalance in the number of conservatives in the student body and on the faculty, asked, "Should we be trying to recruit students and faculty of a more diverse ideology?"
"I wouldn't mind having more people on the faculty who are out-of-the-closet Republicans," said Couvares. However, he added, "I don't think we should be recruiting people on a political party basis."
"I'm a registered Republican, and that's not a reason to hire me," said Sinos.
Kevin Bush '02, chair of the College Republicans, said that he has been characterized as a racist for being a Republican. He described the faculty as mostly liberal and said this affects how students are taught.
Bush said that professors of opposing ideological backgrounds could not make equally persuasive arguments for Republican or Democratic stances.
"They're both capable of presenting both sides, but they're not equally effective," Bush said in reference to classes taught by liberal and conservative professors.
Cobham-Sander said that students whose views differ from the campus majority are, in some ways, provided intellectual opportunities not afforded to other students "because [they're] asked in so many ways to define themselves."
"Most people here who are Democrats do not have that luxury," she said. "They are not as rigorously challenged."
Many of the questions fielded by panelists dealt with the issue of Latino Studies at the College and the creation of a Latino Studies department. Panelists suggested that interested students keep voicing their concerns to the administration. Kaplan told concerned students to continue pushing for the department after they have graduated. Couvares said that some of the reasons the College does not have a Latino Studies department have to do with the low number of qualified candidates looking for positions and the relatively young age of the field.
However, Couvares told students interested in a Latino Studies department, "You would find out you have more allies than you think in the American Studies department."
"We will never be able to offer everything to everybody," said Cobham-Sander, "but what we can offer is a space where you are free to pursue your own creative choices."