ETHNIC GRADUATIONS

As reported by Dustin Barnes in USA TODAY...

Next month, Columbia University will offer six additional graduation ceremonies based on race, ethnicity and other self-identifying factors of undergraduate students.

Native, Asian, Latino and Black graduations are listed as options where students can register, as well as a Lavender graduation for the LGBTQ community, and a ceremony for first-generation and low-income students.

A university spokesperson told USA TODAY these events are in addition to the university-wide commencement ceremony and are open to any student who wants to participate. In many cases, the voluntary multicultural ceremonies initially were created by alumni and students.

"These events provide a more intimate setting for students and guests to gather, incorporate meaningful cultural traditions and celebrate the specific contributions and achievements of their communities," read a statement on the school's website.

Multicultural graduation ceremonies are common at other colleges across the nation. Georgetown University, which holds ceremonies for Asian, African and Latino communities, says the events are "a way to bring students of color together."

Texas Woman's University and Portland State University also have multicultural graduation events planned later this year.

COMMENT:  To me, this seems like the opposite of United We Stand, Divided We Fall...  and, instead of uniting Americans will serve to divide Americans.  If Colleges and Universities want to do this, then why shouldn't employers do this as well...  We could have offices or work stations clustered in ETHNIC GROUPS and GENDERS...  AND...  our restaurants could group customers into ETHNIC GROUPS as well...  an all black room, an all Asian room, and an all white room...

Our military could have ETHNIC barracks that would separate while soldiers from black soldiers, etc.