More than half of undergraduate students enrolled at the University of Georgia are defined as White by ethnic origin according to the UGA Fact Book 2010 studies[1].
Out of more than 25,000 undergraduate students, around 20,000 were qualified as white, limiting the scope of diversity at the University.
“I thought there would be a lot more diversity here,” said Hemali Vin, a junior from Pittsburgh, Pa. studying microbiology at UGA, “In my classes it’s overwhelmingly not diverse.” Coming from a hometown like Pittsburgh, Vin attended a high school where she could always find someone like her, meaning of Indian decent, to talk to. Here in Athens, Ga., Vin cannot even attend a Hindu temple because the closest one is in Atlanta.
Although the majority of Vin’s classes make her out to be the minority, the Foundation Fellow excludes her Honors classes from that bundle. “In the Honors Program it is smaller groups so you can find more diversity” said Vin. Out of UGA’s expansive campus within a sub-culture such as Honors more diversity is cultivated.
Vin cannot say exactly how it is the Honors Program creates such a community but feels that the diversity in the school enhances communication and engagement since she can talk to a number of people regarding a multitude of cultures, making for a great Honors experience.
Aaron Marshburn, from Charlotte, N.C. agrees with the sentiments that the Honors Program is more diverse. “The Honors Program is so diverse because they take people on the merit and that’s recognizing a very fundamental thing about the ludicrousness of trying to draw distinctions,” said the international affairs and journalism double major with a minor in German, “When you take the best students and the students who are open minded and want to challenge themselves academically what you get naturally is a diverse crowd.” If all of UGA was set to the same standards as the Honors students, according to Marshburns theory, there could be an entirely different, less one-sided enrollment pool.
Like Vin, Marshburn is also a Foundation Fellow and cites the fellowship as a platform for his interest in diversity, especially thanks to the international focus. But, is being a Foundation Fellow or in the Honors college the only way to experience diversity at UGA?
Vin and Marshburn both agree that UGA does have diversity, despite what the numbers may suggest. Programs such as the Indian Cultural Exchange or non-Panhellenic sororities and fraternities, along with a number of programs listed on UGA’s master calendar provide the average student with a number of options to enhance their UGA experience by seeking out diversity.
UGA pushes for diversity such as bringing in more minorities from race to gender through their summer programs and the Governor’s Honors Program. But, it is up to the students to embrace these opportunities and incorporate them into their daily lives to truly create a diverse environment.
But how are students defining diversity at UGA? “It just basically reflects recognition of the fact that people are different,” said Marshburn, it is then up to the person to be open or close-minded about how they see other people. Marshburn thinks that there is room for everyone at UGA to work on “objectively evaluating things around them and approaching things they are not comfortable with” and combat a potentially unconscious close-minded attitude.
Marshburn may describe himself as the average American, but not every average “white guy” is interested in “bringing Americans in contact with the outside world” or being the only white member of the Asian American Journalism Association. Despite his diverse tastes, Marshburn is still able to feel comfortable in every place on UGA’s campus.
On the other hand, Vin did not express a place where she felt uncomfortable rather instances when she noticed that she was different. For example, UGA sporting events such as football games are overwhelmingly white. Also, in general, there is a lack of religious diversity.
As previously mentioned, Vin a Hindu, has nowhere in Athens to go pray like her friends have on Sundays. “I just wish that I could do that too… but I haven’t found a good religious outlet yet” said Vin, “it would be nice to be able to get students together.”
Issues of diversity are so unlimited because the definition is so broad. Ethnic origin, gender, religion, sexual orientation, even political views are all characteristics that set people apart from each other. At UGA, it is easy to pinpoint the limited ethnic origin numbers as proven through the UGA Fact Book results, but that is only the tip of the iceberg. Even within those ethnic origins are deeper issues of intercultural diversity meaning religion or gender, etc. This brings an enormous opportunity for diversity to exist, but also makes it very easy to squander.
Vin said that when first coming to UGA, she felt that there was not a lack of diversity and that a lot of progress has been made since desegregation. “It’s really nice when you think about it” said Vin commenting on the number of cultural events such as India Night and how these groups are well established, “it just may not be obvious from an outsider looking in on a first impression.”
Taking a wide panoramic shot of UGA, for example the enrollment numbers, does not highlight the progress. But when zeroing on a smaller target such as the Foundation Fellowship, the significant progress and diverse outlets shine through.
Hopefully, in the next 50 years the numbers will start to even out and more people will be able to experience a diverse UGA that can be found in Honors, but students will have to as Marshburn suggests, actively change the way they approach outsiders and heed his advice by “working to expand your horizons and see the other side of life.”
Really good story!I think it could be better if you explained more what Fellows are and their relationship to the honors program for more clarity. Also, maybe split up some of the paragraphs to make them more digestable!
ReplyDeleteIt’s obvious you did your research for the story, and it turned out to be very good. That said, I wouldn’t lead with the statistic. If you push your facts farther down in the story, it will bring the reader in faster. You have a lot of good information and good sources here, I would just use it a little differently. Good story, though.
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