In the Fall of 2022, the Carlson School of Management launched its new Immersion Core Program, primarily taken by second-year students. The program offers students the opportunity to explore a diverse range of majors and minors available at the business school. I-Core is composed of 2 sections, each consisting of four courses, totaling 24 credits among 2 semesters. The gold section includes Supply Chain, Strategic Management, Finance Fundamentals, and Human Resources while the maroon section includes Managerial Accounting, Management Information Systems, Marketing, and Race, Power, and Justice in Business. Through this experience, students gain insight into seven different majors which ultimately helps them declare a major and start their early career. 

To enhance its public image, the Carlson School of Management introduced a required class called Race, Power, and Justice in Business. Unlike the other 7 classes in I-Core, this class enforced mandatory attendance and a restriction of laptop or tablet use unless you were sitting in the front row. The faculty quickly recognized that without this requirement, student participation would likely diminish. While this new course aims to promote education on diversity, equity, and inclusion, it often unwittingly singles out minority groups, creating discomfort for students who are not part of the majority demographic. I quickly noticed the professors advocating for open dialogue, but found that many students felt hesitant to express differing opinions due to the fear of negatively impacting their grade. With GPA being a huge concern among undergraduate students, people felt it was worth it to echo the professor’s view in order to seal a good grade. 

I remember a day when our class discussed Band-Aid’s introduction of new colors to match various skin tones. This initiative was taken out of the recognition that selling a very light caucasian skin tone was racially insensitive. However, what was originally supposed to be a discussion felt more like a monologue, as no student had the courage to disagree with the professor’s opinion. Regardless of whether students are paying for their education themselves, receiving help from parents, or relying on scholarships, college is a significant financial investment, and they want to maximize their experience. I want to be clear that I totally understand the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion, but I can’t help but question whether it truly makes sense to spend valuable classroom time on a discussion over band-aid colors. Do people genuinely care if their band-aid matches their skin color?

Through my time in I-Core, I noticed many classmates going through the motions and checking the box in this class. While students walk into their accounting or marketing class ready to take notes and learn, it seemed to me as only a fraction of the class was engaged during Race, Power, and Justice. There were plenty of days where I would show up and observe the class and wonder if it really makes sense to spend time discussing different races and backgrounds, or if this class is something that Carlson feels they need to do in order to check off the DEI box. Trevor Theado, a student in I-Core, said “For the few times I actually tuned in, it just felt like white men were being attacked for being ‘privileged”. Another student commented, “They acted like it was an environment where everyone could share their opinion, but the professor pushed their message so hard on us that there was really only one right answer.”

I began to perceive that privilege was being framed as a negative trait, which troubled me. While I believe it is important to be thankful for the advantages you may have, I do not believe that privilege should define one’s worth or potential. Just because someone grew up privileged doesn’t mean they can’t take credit and fulfillment for being successful. As I finished up my final paper on my commitment to DEI in order to secure an A in the class, I felt a deep discomfort — not with the idea of diversity, equity and inclusion, but with how the class emphasized the experiences of minority students. I felt that with a deep focus on minorities, people who were non-white students were singled out and put in uncomfortable situations. 

While I recognize the importance of understanding how diversity, equity, and inclusion intersect with business, I believe the extreme liberal agenda placed upon students is ineffective. I appreciate and support diversity in groups, teams, and organizations because it brings multiple perspectives. However, the way Carlson and this class specifically push it so hard on students seems wrong. Replacing the eighth I-Core class with Entrepreneurial Management or Business Analytics might not fit the narrative of the liberal agenda, but I believe the students will have a better appreciation for I-Core, gain more beneficial knowledge, and show up to class because they want to learn, not because it is mandatory.