York College of Pennsylvania isn’t exactly known for its diversity. About 82 percent of its students are white, according to Education Department data.
But, like most universities, it really wants to appear diverse — so much so that the university actually swapped out two white students with more diverse-looking students in a new billboard. The college confirmed the photo was indeed photoshopped.
Did York College photoshop in people of different ethnicities to make them look like a more diverse campus or.. pic.twitter.com/DheEBZQIZU
— Corey C-137 (@CoreyReever) January 29, 2019
York doubled down on the controversial photo with defensive comments from multiple university officials, including York College President Pamela Gunter-Smith, who took responsibility for the advertisement.
“We are not as diverse in number as we would like to be, but we are, nevertheless, a diverse campus in all respects,” Gunter-Smith said. All respects, except race or ethnicity, of course.
Gunter added that the school wants “all students to feel welcome” on campus and “to see themselves” at York College.
In other words, the school is encouraging diverse students to attend by giving them the false impression that they won’t be a minority so that they can better “see themselves” as York College students.
“This photo reflects the diversity of students who live and learn at York College,” one York spokeswoman reiterated in an email to Inside Higher Ed. “All those included are York College students. In an effort to reinforce inclusivity, we attempt to ensure that all students are represented and welcome.”
Inclusivity is always a good fallback when people realize that your school is not as diverse as you portray it.
Unfortunately, this isn’t the first time that a university has been caught using Photoshop to fake its diversity. On the cover of its admissions booklet back in 2000, the University of Wisconsin at Madison inserted a black student’s face in the background, hoping no one would notice the amateur editing job. People noticed, and the school was lambasted by the media.
Why focus only on photoshopped photos, though? Minority students are used all the time to sell universities to prospective students. Inside Higher Ed notes that 75 percent of colleges over represent black students in viewbooks. Sure, the models are real students, but is it any more ethical to convey a misleading message to diverse prospective students by flaunting a small diverse population?
University of Denver law professor Nancy Leong decries the “fake diversity” exhibited in college materials.
“I do have some sympathy for schools that want to portray themselves as inclusive through visual representations in their materials,” Leong told Inside Higher Ed. “I understand what they are trying to do … the problem is that it is forcing attention and resources on aesthetic appearances instead of anything substantive.”
This controversy reveals that optics is ultimately at the heart of most college diversity campaigns. Schools are using diversity to give themselves a competitive edge. In the process, they are not only using minority students as pawns, but they are lying to prospective applicants along the way.
Brendan Pringle (@BrendanPringle) is writer from California. He is a National Journalism Center graduate and formerly served as a development officer for Young America’s Foundation at the Reagan Ranch.
