Introduction It gives me great pleasure this afternoon to introduce ...

that the environment on our campus is simply notas sensitive, tolerant, and supportive of racialdiversity as it should be...as it must be!\The Challenge:The Importance of DiversityIt seems imperative that universities such both,recognizeas Michigan both recognizethe importance of diversity and pluralism in itsmission...And make a firm commitment to its achievement:i) Through the recruitment, support, retention,and success of minority students, faculty,staff -- and leadersii) And through the development of anenvironment of mutual understandingand sensitivity that not only toleratesdiversity, but moveover seeks andembraces it as an essential objectiveof the institution.ExcellenceThere seems little doubt that our ability to achieveexcellence in teaching, scholarship, andservice will be determined over time toa considerable degree by the diversity andpluralism of our campus community.We draw strength from diversity.diversity.We have set before this University an importantnew agenda to achieve new levels of understanding,tolerance, and mutual fulfillment for peoples ofdiverse racial, cultural, gender, economic, andnational backgrounds.This will require major new commitments of human and financialresources. It will also require the active involvement andcooperation of our faculty, students, staff, alumni, friends,and supporters in the effort to move toward this importantgoal.It will require us to pull together as a community...in a new spirit of cooperation rather thanconfrontation...joining one another in ourmutual pursuit of a truly multicultural communityof scholars.A new fire...But let me suggest that something more is neededif we are to be successful in this mission ofdiversity.We need to rekindle the fire, the commitmentthat characterized Dr. King's movement iselfin the 1960s...And through our actions this past spring, we hopeto stimulate a renewal of commitment throughoutour University community and beyond...A commitment to the acceptance of, the striving for,and the achievement of diversity and excellence--two intimately related and mutually reinforcinggoals that we view as the key to the distinctionof the University in the years ahead.And I can think of no one better suited tohelping us rekindle this new commitment tothe great dream of Reverand King thanProfessor Eleanor Homes Norton...