Crystal Canterbury
West Virginia University College of Law, Rising 2L
Friday, May 23, 2008
Global Corporate Social Responsibility and Diversity

Opening my front door to the sunny, blue skies of Guanajuato, I decided to forego the long walk to my favorite coffee shop in favor of he umbrellaed tables at the Plaza de la Paz, just a few blocks away. Sipping a cappuccino and munching on slices of fresh mango, I split my attention between reading the day’s law review articles and surreptitiously people-watching. Cars drove by blasting Reggaeton music, uniformed students relaxed with icy drinks, and locals and travelers alike spilled off the narrow sidewalks onto the dusty, brick streets.

Later, Professor cummings’ lecture and seminar sparked a revealing dialog about the need for Corporate Social Responsibility and, particularly, the need for diversity on corporate boards. In recent years, boards comprised primarily of privileged white men have permitted their companies to book contracts ahead of date (Xerox, IBM), camouflage and dispose of debt in a subsidiary (Enron), hire a dubiously qualified candidate based solely on the CEO’s recommendation (Disney), and freeze employee stock shares while selling their own (Enron, Worldcom). To illustrate how diversity affects a board’s dynamic, Professor cummings selected a “dream board” of half women and half racial minorities, with members representing a variety of socioeconomic and geographic backgrounds. In contrast to the corporate decisions, our diverse student board refused to acquiesce to the tyrannical demands of “CEO cummings” in roll play exercises. Whether focusing on the good of the employees, long-term business acumen, or personal fraud liability, diverse perspectives kept the board from rubber-stamping each proposal.

After some time spent reading, journaling, emailing, and relaxing, most of us prepared for our first Friday night in the city. Guanajuato may seem like a sleepy, colonial town during the day, but nightfall reveals a city in love with all celebrations of life. In addition to the seemingly-nightly parades, weekends bring a bevy of entertainment options, from the local symphony and folklore ballet to Shakespearean-costumed singers and assorted street performers. After eating a delicious dinner, we attended a performance of the local symphony; most popular was a five-movement selection which received such enthusiastic applause that the featured pianist returned to perform a solo piece. After the symphony, we enjoyed the sights and sounds of Guanajuato on a Friday evening. The area surrounding the Plaza de la Paz is crammed nightly with entrepreneurs selling jewelry, souvenirs, gorditas, hamburgers, fruit, and everything else imaginable. If you aren’t looking or jewelry or a late-night snack, the steps of the Teatro Juarez (and countless other theaters, churches, and town squares) are packed with people laughing at clowns and street performers; the street performers are particularly appreciated because their humor (usually) transcends the language barrier! If you feel the need to move on, you might enjoy listening to some of the very talented, Shakespearean-garbed singers and musicians. And if you feel like something a bit more interactive, you might have a drink at the Reggae-themed Bar Fly of test your salsa and meringue skills at Cuba Mia.

We’ve been in Guanajuato for almost one week, yet there is still no shortage of local foods to sample or colorful alleys to explore. Stay tuned for more!