It could seem possible to the average student that while there is a great deal of lip service given to the ideal of diversity on campus, there is really very little action taken. However, 11 University students are about to show that the spirit of diversity is truly alive and appreciated as they head off to the National Conference on Race and Ethnicity in Higher Education (NCORE) in June in Santa Fe, N.M.
The conference, as the name implies, focuses on the important issue of diversity in the higher education arena. With about 1,200 attendees from the ranks of administrators, faculty and students the 13th annual meeting should be able to further the cause fairly well.
Having 11 University students attend is in itself impressive. The five-day conference occurs during dead week and finals, requiring a great show of dedication during a stressful time of year when most students are content to keep focus on their scholastics and the world directly around them.
The lessons and knowledge the students gain at the conference should be used back on campus to promote diversity. The entire point of diversity, of course, is that different ideas and backgrounds should be expressed as often as possible to make the larger group stronger. Thus, we can all grow at the same time the University shows its commitment to diversity.
The more noteworthy fact about student involvement in this cause is that eight out of the 11 students attending the conference are there on scholarships awarded by the conference. No single institution has ever received as many scholarships as the University was awarded this year.
That’s pretty impressive. That students are so concerned with the issue and have shown enough dedication to receive the scholarships speaks to the pervasive attitude of tolerance the University continually strives to maintain and improve. When students send the message to others that there is real attention and effort being put into solutions to social problems and that positive change can and should come.
Attending NCORE and the move toward corporate licensing responsibility (the controversial Worker Rights Consortium should ring some bells for you) should start to once again put the University on the map of political activism. Such a movement became very apparent last year when students sat in at Johnson Hall with a list of demands to increase diversity on campus and continue today with the WRC and NCORE.
The rest of campus should be proud, and at the same time take note, of the work of students going to NCORE. The 11 students are a good number that can make the rest of us pleased, but it’s the responsibility of the rest of the University community to keep that spirit alive every day.