Students discuss diversity

During a “dialogue-in” at Diversity Day 2011, students, faculty and staff discussed the topic “Conversation: Diversity, Ethnicity and Internationalism.” Circled around five tables, groups answered questions in a structured format while facilitators pushed them to think deeper about critical issues.

The “dialogue-in” served as a way for the IU-Bloomington Diversity Committee, which sponsored the event, to solicit student input. The committee submits a yearly report to Provost and Executive Vice President Karen Hanson.

After opening remarks from David Zaret, interim dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, Gerardo Gonzalez, dean of the School of Education, and Bloomington Diversity Committee Chair Carolyn Calloway-Thomas, students began discussion.

HEAR THEIR THOUGHTS

“I don’t want to speak German right now, and I don’t want to hang out with someone who I can hang out with at home, so I’ve been trying to hang out with Americans a lot.”
- Miriam Keller, sophomore and German exchange student

“When people come to campus, they naturally want to be with people who are like themselves.”
- Vanessa Gee, sophomore

“I don’t think anybody’s disrespectful, but then at the same time, earlier this year somebody defaced the side of the Jewish cultural center, so it can’t be all that wonderful.”
- Caroline Brown, senior

“I would say that I feel comfortable, but I wouldn’t say I’d just go make friends with a random person.”
- Amanda DiVittorio, senior

“The goal of higher education is to move up the ladder, but getting there is something people don’t really talk about.”
- Miranda Lane, senior