by Candice Frank
What makes an environment diverse? A fulfilled quota? The“token [insert race here]” guy or girl? In my opinion, a place may be statistically diverse; but if the different types of people in that place never integrate, communicate, or work together – what good is diversity?
Despite the fact that there is a decent amount of minorities at Syracuse University, the campus is very segregated. Syracuse is known as one the most segregated schools in the country. College Prowler states:
Read more: http://collegeprowler.com/syracuse-university/diversity/#ixzz1sMbY29VT“Although Syracuse may not be the most diverse campus around, there are a significant number of minority students here. That said, pure numbers and statistics do not determine the true diversity level on a college campus; intermingling between cultures is what’s important. However, Syracuse, like many other “diverse” universities, shows a distinct lack of social interaction between people of different backgrounds.”
Sadly, Newhouse is also very segregated. In my Newhouse classes, I work on projects and discuss class-related topics with my white peers, but once outside the classroom, everyone goes their separate ways and there is little to no communication across racial lines. I believe that diversity is not only about having the numbers to show that different types of people coexist in an environment, but it is also about how much integration takes place. Of course you can’t force people to get to know each other or hang out just as you cannot make kids play with one another on a playground. It’s human nature not to be able to connect with everyone. However, a place will prosper greater when two forces work together towards the success of one thing instead of two forces working on opposite ends of the same goal. This is the benefit of integration.
“Do you want a collection of brilliant minds or a brilliant collection of minds?” –R. Meredith Belbin
Furthermore, diversity extends beyond race. Newhouse is 60% female and 40% male. Gender imbalance can have similar negative effects as racial imbalance. Gender and race are just two of the many factors that make an environment diverse. Diversity does not exist simply because a certain amount of minorities or a certain amount of females coexist in one place. That place can still be heavily segregated. They must actively promote progress in that environment by working together. In a sense, diversity is not only about quantity, but it is about quality as well.
If there is segregation, then diversity is useless. Diversity fosters progress while segregation hinders it. I love my school, but Syracuse has not quite grasped this ‘integration’ aspect of diversity. A diversity initiative in each department of study would be a great start.
“Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.” – Henry Ford
Sadly this is true in many colleges across the country.
I believe culture also has a lot to do with the reason why we see this invisible line appear in the sand so much. Despite the fact that colleges are becoming increasingly diverse, culture clashes lead to cautious behavior and prejudging of those not belonging to their particular culture. For example, a white student at the end of a class with you may simply feel more comfortable going to hang with his/her white friends because they align more with their ideals and views, or at least they think so. This of course doesn’t mean they’re racist or anything, just that their lack of knowledge of black culture may make them uncomfortable. Everyone likes to feel safe within the confines of their own culture, whites and minorities alike.
Possibly programs/activities aimed at better understanding of one another’s culture is what is needed to help integrate college campuses, but I agree it’s an issue that when resolved I feel can have great outcomes to how we work together especially to get things done.
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Thank you for sharing this piece. Diversity is such an important issue that should be talked about, regardless of how touchy it is. As a Newhouse student, it is disheartening to not be able to see people you can relate to. What’s even worse is that there are fewer minority role models in the media you can look up to. When we have mostly white people decide what goes in newspapers, magazines, movies and television shows, the minority voice is not heard. That is a huge problem when we consider how much people rely on media consumption to stay informed.
Maybe what’s chasing away minority students from Newhouse and other communications schools is the field itself. People often perceive communications as unstable, not well-paying and difficult to break into. As a child of Chinese immigrants, I was never encouraged to explore this field, but rather more technical fields. I hope that in the future, minority students can look at a career in journalism and be encouraged by parents and friends to enter the field as well as have role models to look up to.