Lake County Gazette

The College of Lake County (CLC) is hiring a diversity administrator.

However, some fear that if the college follows through then it will provide a pathway to teach critical race theory at the school.

Former student Matthew Duray said that if the college chose to teach the theory then it is doing so because opponents are too afraid to speak up.

"As a former student of the College of Lake County, who was active in many clubs and student organizations on campus, I have seen firsthand the hypocrisy of the CLC deans, professors, and other staff,” Duray said. “While claiming to be equitable and inclusive to all students, it is clear that they only support those students who fit into their agenda. CLC is not open and willing to have free thought, open discourse, or any discussion that does not fit in with their status quo. We need people to stand up against the radical ideas, and we need people to speak up on behalf of the students who are silenced and too afraid to speak out."

A significant number of people who spoke at July’s board meeting opposed the hiring.

According to the Chicago Tribune, one person said: “Critical race theory is basically censorship of ideas, and encourages people to put the color of their skin above all else.”

Joe Muccianti said, “It teaches that white people are inherently racist and everything we do, no matter what, is racist. Please do not teach this to our students.”

Samantha Harris wrote an opinion column in which she stated that theory had no place in the classroom because it’s problematic.

"This is a dangerous and divisive ideology, one that assigns moral value to people on the basis of their skin color," she wrote.

An Illinois school district was recently sued to stop the teaching of critical race theory on the allegation that it violates free speech.

If the school follows through with the hiring of a diversity administrator, they will be compensated with a six-figure income and some say that money could be better used for classroom instruction.

The College of Lake County's Young Americans for Freedom Chapter is opposed to the hiring.