By Lori Lawson
After class last week, I couldn’t help but to wonder whether diversity was really just a tagline without justification here at Mason. Our speaker’s thought provoking comments regarding Mason having a large variety of students that do not intermingle if it involves crossing ethnic, cultural, or socioeconomic lines eventually drove me to action – even if that just means Googling the issue. While the first few results were nothing more than GMU’s typically emphasis diversity, a few lines down a found exactly what I was looking for: an article entitled From Fenwick to Fairfax Detention Center in a Flash: GMU Police take it too far, for the last time. Sketchy sources and potential bias aside, the article still brings up a valid point – how are different groups at Mason truly interacting with each other?
We’ve all seen it around campus. The ethnically divided tables in the Johnson Center, the clear minority of the class left without partners for a group project, and the general isolation of each distinct social group. While we certainly (as a campus) have a wide variety of social groups with a significant amount of members, interaction between these factions certainly leaves much to be desired. In the case of this article, I feel that had groups been more intermingled on campus then this situation would be much less likely as there would be less prejudice involved int he situation. This said, of course it is still entirely possible (and likely) that there would still be people on campus lacking tolerance for those different than them.
The real question to ask here is “How can we improve this situation?” In my eyes, I think the best approach is to take it on a personal level. Of course this approach means a long time will be pass before a real difference is noticed, but by focusing on individual relations the change is much more likely to last. What do I mean by this individual change? Its as simple as being bold and breaking borders. Go sit at a table that doesn’t fit our typically lunch crowd. Be partners with someone different than you. Be kind, courteous, and accepting. One thing not to do, however, is not force it unless you’re truly willing to embrace diversity because then it is not truly change – just another mask hiding the real problems.
What have you done recently to break down borders? How do you think we should handle this issue? Do you think Mason’s frequent use of the word “diversity” is justified? Tell me below! Get the conversation started and make some change.
November 4th, 2012 at 2:48 pm
Lori, the article you chose made me absolutely FURIOUS! I cannot believe that such an act of injustice would occur at our “wonderfully diverse” school, and just flat out shocked that this would happen in a country renowned for its freedoms, privacy, and other rights. It’s times like these that I feel like I’m lucky to be a white girl, but at the same time, feel like it’s some sort of privilege that I didn’t earn. I can only hope that I never see an injustice like this one occur, because I will have a few words to share. Also, it seems like the girl in the article had an “in” with the system- nothing is ever fair when you have connections- but the truth of the matter is that everyone, where ever they are, has some sort of beneficial connection…
November 5th, 2012 at 12:03 am
Lori, I think diversity is definitely a complex issue…while Mason may have the most students from all around the world, is it fair for Mason to boast about that if the students aren’t truly interacting? For me, Mason’s diversity was one of the main attractions I had to the school…I knew I didn’t want to be just another white girl at JMU. Diversity, in some ways becomes a choice. Do you choose to engage people different from you? Do you actually care about learning from different cultures, beliefs, etc?
I’ve gotten involved on campus with a group called International Friendship Connection (cheesy name I know) that works closely with Mason’s international students. They put on events that teach students about American culture (pumpkin carving, Thanksgiving dinners) all within an environment in which you can learn more about their culture. It’s awesome. They also work with the ESL school to put on English Corners every week to help students practice their English and meet new friends. I haven’t been able to go as often as I’d like, but I’ve loved it so far!