A new look at diversity

IU prides itself on diversity. People from all walks of life are encouraged to attend IU. On campus, many support groups and organizations promote a sense of belonging. We claim that our school is diverse in many ways, including student population, ethnic resources and international outlets. \nThere are many positive aspects to IU\'s ongoing commitment to diversity, but are we doing enough? Is this campus really that diverse?\nAs I look around in my classes, I notice that the majority of the students are white. Most of my classmates appear to have similar backgrounds, academic goals and collegiate lifestyles. At the risk of generalizing, we have a lot in common.\nThe same idea applies outside of the classroom. When I'm on campus, at the bars or eating dinner, I tend to see those same people. Yet no one person is at fault; we all are. And I am one of the culprits.\nI have my group of friends, my routine activities and my favorite places to go. I am happy with what I have, but by being satisfied, I am missing out on many opportunities. By thinking that these aspects of my life are enough, I am ignoring myself, and even worse, I am ignoring others.\nHow hard would it be for me to make friends with people of a different ethnicity? What would happen if I spent time with people outside of my demographic group? By being selfishly content with what I have, I am promoting boundaries.\nBut I'm not the only one. Diversity is a two-way street. People outside of my established group of friends don't usually bother breaking out of their comfort zone either. In my time at IU, very few ethnic people, whether African-American or Native American, have attempted to befriend me. On the other hand, why should they? After all, minorities struggle daily to overcome certain stereotypes.\nNo matter how diverse we may think we are, we still have a long way to go. After the July 4, 1999, racially motivated murder of IU student Won Joon Yoon, IU President Myles Brand told the IDS (July 12, 1999), that "tolerance and respect for diversity must prevail." After failed attempts to promote campus and community-wide dialogue on diversity, we've largely forgotten about this incident.\nOne would think, after the tragic events of Sept. 11, that within this country, our prejudices and stereotypes would disappear; but in fact, we've gone backwards. Several ethnic groups are being targeted more now than ever. \nIf we want to promote diversity on this campus, then we all need to step outside our established boundaries and open our eyes -- myself included. It's not easy, but it's worth it. \nThink about what you might regret after you graduate. You might wish you had lived somewhere else, joined an organization or volunteered at a local charity. But if you refuse to embrace diversity, you might regret much more. \nTake the time to talk to someone different, someone who might not be quite like you. Attend events that might be out of your social circle. Change your perspective. You can enhance your surroundings as you tear down barriers. Let's celebrate Black History Month, explore the resources, learn about the culture and do our part to achieve racial reconciliation.