Chris Massad
College and schools in general are constantly pressed with the issue of diversity. There are numerous issues concerning diversity. Is our school diverse enough? Do we want a diverse student body? Is the amount of diversity causing problems within the student body? These are questions that must be answered on a consistent basis by the university faculty. If universities are going to cause such a fuss over diversity, we must first look at why it's important. According to Connect to Higher Education, "Students learn from those whose experiences, beliefs, and perspectives are different from their own." Connect to Higher Education is right, but diversity in school is more important than just that.
Yes, people learn from experiences different from their own, but being in a diverse environment can be overwhelming. For some, being surrounded with people of different ethnic backgrounds can be a culture shock. The U.S. is known as the melting pot and chances are, the average person living in the U.S. will be in constant situations where they must interact with people of different cultures. Like I stated earlier, some people do not cope well with these types of situations. In attending a diverse university, students not only learn from the experiences of ethnically different students, but they learn how to get along with each other by understanding and respecting each others' differences. College is a time for learning, but learning from books is not the only way to be successful. The work force is representative of the United States population, as it is also diverse. To be successful, one must learn how to interact with individuals different from themselves, and college is the place one learns how to be successful. Why not have a diverse university and discover the best ways to respect, appreciate, and welcome different people?
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