A new plan regarding the integration of diversity issues into the University's curriculum was announced Wednesday by Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Marty Krauss.Krauss explained the Provost's Steering Committee on Campus Diversity Issues was impaneled to focus on concrete methods to "deepen faculty awareness of the dynamics of racial, religious and social class differences among ourselves and our students."

After last semester's events, Krauss said she wanted to inform the community about the Administration's course of action toward promoting diversity -on campus. "I wanted to make sure that we start now," Krauss said. "It may not be perfect, but it's authentic."

Dean of Arts and Sciences Adam Jaffe said he believes installing diversity awareness is an important aspect of the curriculum.

"The goal is to think about what we need to do to diversify the curriculum and incorporate into the curriculum our goals-in terms of making our education system here one that supports an understanding of diversity and living in a diverse community," Jaffe said.

Jaffe also said this plan is now emerging because the applicant pool and the community have become increasingly diverse.

"We can consider a new 'core' course or requirement for people to take, if people think it's worth talking about," Jaffe said. "If we add courses for next year, we would have people teach courses part-time or perhaps ask existing faculty to add courses that we don't currently have the depth or breadth of offering."

Jaffe said if the faculty judged to amend this rule, it is possible that a diversity requirement could be applied to incoming first-years.

University President Jehuda Reinharz said he would prefer to spread issues of diversity throughout the curriculum rather than having a requirement.

"My hope is that the new courses-and there will be new courses, not re-programmed old courses-my hope is that they will take place throughout the curriculum in a variety of schools and departments," Reinharz said.

According to Reinharz, Brandeis has always been working to include more diversity in the curriculum and the community. Reinharz said the University is the first school in the nation to create a master's program in coexistence.

Many professors support the committee.

Prof. Gordon Fellman (SOC) said he looks forward to seeing the provost's initiatives implemented and possibly taking an active role in them.

"I hope and expect [Krauss] to move into the complexities of how and why people maintain at least vestiges of racism within themselves that often blind them not only to the horrors of racism around them but desensitize them to aspects of their own suffering," Fellman said.

Prof. John Schrecker (HIST) expressed similar sentiments, citing the East Asian Studies department as an example of broadening the scope of course offerings.

"Despite Brandeis' rich offerings in Western literatures, we have no full-time specialist on East Asian literature," Schrecker said. "We also have no Korean specialist in any field, and only one full-time specialist on Japan. Provost Krauss has taken a truly positive step forward, and deserves the full support of the community."

The Justice was unable to find any professors who were concerned with the announcement of the initiative.

Students expressed a variety of opinions on the issue.

Nick Freeman '07 said that while something must be done about the issue of diversity, the administration's reform of the curriculum may not be the best course of action.

"While I'm really glad that the administration is trying to do something to help with this issue, I'm not sure some of these steps will really help," Freeman said. "Will these classes act as eye-openers for the campus at large or will they only attract students who are already open-minded and dedicated to fostering pluralism?"

Marrisa Collins '06 said she is happy the Brandeis Pluralism Alliance, which provides grants and support for student and faculty diversity initiatives, is receiving continued support from the University.

"I know there funding is running out," Collins said. "The fact that Brandeis stepped up and provided replacement is great. I can't say I would [be] averse to anything that would improve diversity."

Daniel Duffy '07 said he believes the University is taking a "good step."

Rev. Nathaniel Mays, coordinator of diversity services, will constitute one of the members of the steering committee. He said he will help facilitate programming between the University and students on projects and events.

"Now we are in a point in the University when we are joining forces to address these themes of diversity," Mays said. "The fact that that provost has invited me to be part of her Diversity Steering Committee is exciting."

Mays said the provost and the University have always had interest in emphasizing diversity. But according to Mays, last semester highlighted community concerns about how people view one another.

"I think last semester's issues, for all of us, pointed more, than ever before, just how diverse our community is and how diverse the concerns are on our campus and that we really do have to step up on all the different areas on campus to really try to have an impact on the diversity within the student body, the curriculum and the faculty as well," Mays said.

Mays said he is aware that some may think diversity is not an issue worth addressing on campus. But, he said, this response is a "perfect example of the diversity issue."

According to Mays, it is important not to think of diversity as forcing people to accept other views. He said his concern is education.

"Whatever we can do to enlighten each other about who we are and what we bring to this campus, that's what diversity means to me," Mays said.