Diversity Corner
| Publication year | 2019 |
| Pages | 19 |
Building Diversity Will Take an Effort by Everyone
by Amanda Stanley
Indifference, to me, is the epitome of evil. The opposite of love is not hate, it's indifference. The opposite of faith is not heresy, it's indifference. And the opposite of life is not death, it's indifference. Because of indifference, one dies before one actually dies. To be in the window and watch people being sent to concentration camps or being attacked in the street and do nothing, that's being dead.
—Elie Weisel
I was approached a couple different times about being the chair of the KBA Diversity Committee before I said yes. At the time, I kind of felt like I was drowning with work and other activities. I just didn't want to take on one more thing, but at the same time, diversity is so important. I was torn. Then, I watched in horror as Nazis marched with apparent impunity down the streets of Charlottesville. I was angry and sad and so many other emotions. I wanted to know how the hell in 2017 could anyone think that was acceptable? I decided in that moment that I was not willing to pass up a chance to work on an issue as crucial as diversity. I was not willing to be indifferent. Over the last year and half, I have had the privilege to be involved in several amazing events. In collaboration with other organizations, we hosted a Poverty Simulation for about 70 Kansas attorneys and Judges, have written countless Diversity Corner Articles, given and participated in CLEs on important diversity topics, hosted a trivia night for law students, participated as a sponsor at the KU Law Diversity Banquet, and have tried to provide opportunities for diverse attorneys to have a seat at the table. At each event, I have heard a new perspective and some common themes. I want to share some of the things I learned at the most recent event.
At this year's KU Diversity Banquet, Chief Judge Julie Robinson, class of 1981, was the keynote speaker. Chief Judge Robinson is the Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Kansas. According to her biography on the court's website, Judge Robinson is a fourth generation Kansan and the first African American named to the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas. Watching Judge Robinson speak, I was struck by how impressive she appears. She is calm, articulate, and brilliant. One would never guess watching her that she...
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