New student group plans to work to make campus less 'self-segregated'

With more than 200 student-run organizations on campus, representing interests from spelunking to the stock market, IU is about to welcome a slightly different organization into the mix. \nPlanning to start up this summer, the Social Justice and Diversity League combines political science, sociology, diversity and leadership training into one student-run organization. Students will become involved in the current problems facing campus in hopes to unite multiple causes.\n"Oftentimes we think about social injustice with people of color," said Eric Love, director of diversity education at IU and adviser for the organization. "My idea is to bring the people from a lot of different groups -- putting aside animosity -- and work together to change the social problems that we have." \nLove has been active in human rights for nearly 20 years. Ever since speaking out against white supremacy groups and pushing for the Martin Luther King holiday in his home state of Idaho, his main focus has always been race. Today Love continues to work with IU students interested in social justice and issues involving race, gender, sexual orientation and socio-economic issues.\n"Previously we used to promote a fair, just and equitable society, and that's important, but it doesn't always attract students," Love said. "Employers want employees who are comfortable and knowledgeable -- it's no longer just about learning about diversity."\nJunior Shane Whittington is helping to get the group running with Love and thinks IU has a definite need for a group like theirs. Whittington has been looking for an outlet like the Social Justice League on campus and thinks that it will fill a gap in the communication bridge between students.\n"Overall, we'll work to bring the campus together," Whittington said. "There isn't (a group) like this on campus and we need it."\nWhittington hopes that the Social Justice League will act as a connection between other student-run organizations by helping them plan and promote their events, and in result, bring students together. He admits it might be challenging to establish a name for themselves but is confident that IU is ready to let them in.\nLove said he hopes that the new organization will help attract students interested in the global economy and changing demographics and that this, in turn, will provide them with an edge over classmates when it comes to the life outside of college.\n"We need to get people from diverse backgrounds, working together to address the problems and change them," Love said.\nHe said he hopes the group can work with other minority organizations in confronting the issues that affect all minority social classes.\n"Poor white citizens are marginalized just as much as everyone else and by working together, we can address those problems affecting those groups," Love said. "One thing I think is important is that it seems like marginalized groups, instead of working together, are often combative with each other."\nJunior Reginald Ingram, also got involved after noticing how divided campus was through social groups and organization, and he hopes the league will cause students to be less "self-segregated."\nThe league hopes to start advocating this fall, and they welcome any members from various backgrounds to become involved. \n"Learning new things is really important to (our) campus right now, and there are so many organizations that are so separated, and it shouldn't even be about race." Ingram said. "It's about supporting each other"