Diversity, a bad thing?

Student Lounge College Life
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<p>Have you ever noticed that at schools which boast large populations of certain races that diversity is actually hindered? I've visited a few schools and in even my own, while we have a lot of people from different races/ethnicities, what ends up being a "self-segragation" between these people.</p>

<p>Groups of Latinos, Asians, Indians, Blacks, etc may be so large that instead of feeling the need to diffuse they instead band together. At a school with less diversity there would be less of these racial groups, so kids are forced to mix with different groups. At these schools you'll see an Indian or an Asian in a white sorority for instance, while at the school with more diversity, instead of seeing that mixing you'd just see an Indian or Asian sorority.</p>

<p>I think this should be kept in mind when looking at schools because it has a pretty big impact on things such as future friendships and in general just learning to interact with other people.</p>

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<p>Minorities tend to self-segregate, as far I can see, both in high school and in college.</p>

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<p>I think they only self segregate though when there's a lot of them together. If there aren't then self segregation isn't possible.</p>

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<p>Self segregation can occur in either situation. Sometimes like dcfca said when there's a whole of of one race, and other times, when there are fewer of them- then they may feel the need to stick with each other for whatever reason.</p>

<p>I think that diversity is a good thing. You see, having diversity presents the opportunity for socialization. Its just up to the individual to have an open mind and embrace the opportunity. :)</p>

<p>The most negative that diversity can create is perhaps racial tension. But hopefully as educated college students, we would not let this get in the way of our day to day activities and scholastic pursuits.</p>

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<p>Obviously the solution is to maintain colleges at 80% white so the minorities will learn to mingle (sarcasm).</p>

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<p>What would happen, for the sake of discussion, if colleges were to enroll students at exactly their makeup in the United States? Is that not diversity at its most accurate?</p>

<p>In 2000, the census reported:</p>

<p>75.1% of respondents said they were White and no other race;
12.3% are of Black or African-American descent;
Hispanics - who may belong to any race - accounted for 12.5% of the U.S. population, up from 9% in 1990;
3.6% of respondents are Asian;
2.4% of respondents are multiracial (2 or more races).</p>

<p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_2000_census%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_2000_census&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

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<p>
[quote]

I think that diversity is a good thing. You see, having diversity presents the opportunity for socialization. Its just up to the individual to have an open mind and embrace the opportunity.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>But what is the point of socializing with your own race? doesn't that defeat the purpose of diversity?</p>

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<p>
[quote]
What would happen, for the sake of discussion, if colleges were to enroll students at exactly their makeup in the United States? Is that not diversity at its most accurate?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Yes, I've heard that many times on this board but never got a chance to reply :)</p>

<p>It makes no sense to do that because specific areas don't follow that makeup at all. Especially when you look at the leading cultural/economic centers; they look nothing like that. California, which is somewhere between the 8th-5th largest economy in the entire world, only has a 47% white population. Look at these cities that make up a massive amount of the U.S. economy (All from wikipedia as well):</p>

<p>S.F. - 50% white, 30% Asian
New York - 45% white, 27% black, 27% hispanic
L.A. - 47% white, 46% hispanic
Chicago - 42% white, 37% black
Boston (included just because it's a prestigious college area) - 50% white, 37% black</p>

<p>So why in the world would you encourage Harvard, MIT, Stanford, UC Berkeley, University of Chicago etc. to mimic the nation as a whole when their individual areas do not reflect that? Anyone who becomes incredibly successful probably ends up working in these leading centers. Therefore it makes sense to train our students to operate in diverse environments if they are going to be successful individuals. How could we expect a president to live and work out of D.C., which is 60% black, if in his four years in college he has hardly interacted with black people? Going to a 3% Asian school he would be shocked to step foot in San Francisco.</p>

<p>In addition, the density of the population is highly focused in the urban centers, which tend to be very diverse. There may be tons of white people spread throughout middle America, but the density of these areas pales in comparison to urban centers. This means that a random person in the United States is more likely to live in a more diverse urban or suburban area than a rural one in Nebraska.</p>

<p>If you wanted diversity at its most accurate, you would have schools reflect their individual areas. i.e. University of Chicago would be 42% white and 37% black. If not this, then at least reflect the makeup of the leading economic/cultural centers. But taking the makeup of the entire nation just wouldn't cut it, since the diversity of areas can be drastically different from city to city, state to state.</p>

<p>Anyway, that's what I've always wanted to say :)</p>

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<p>I am actually highly mixed and consist of 3 different races. I do agree that it defeats the purpose of diversity when many of these people make there own groups. What is failed to be mentioned that it’s not just minorities, but people who are white do the same. The tendency is there because people who are similar in terms of interests and experiences tend to band together because they are comfortable with the commonality. So in a sense its not a racial reason that is conscious. From being mixed I have also observed that people are much more accommodating to associate with you if they think you are of the same race. It’s a touchy issue, but that’s how it is.</p>

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<p>I'm eagerly awaiting the day whites become the ethnic minority in America, then what will happen circa 2050?</p>

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<p>What about intellectual diversity?</p>

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<p>i doubt the ivies would go for that. defeats the purpose of being a top school</p>

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<p>No, I mean differences of opinion on, say, political matters.</p>

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<p>well thats a different story. is there really lack of intellectual diversity in universities. I'm all for it. Difference of opinion is what makes this world more interesting</p>

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<p>i agree with you icer...and i since i attend a school w/ a very small percentage of minorities, but i have attended schools w/ even numbers, i can add something to the convo. at my current school, i tend to stick w/ ppl of the same ethnicity when we get together for cultural activities and to help out our community, but we all have different friends as well. we just like knowing that there is somebody else out there who understands where we're coming from. at my old schools i actually didn't associate w/ ppl of my ethnicity because i was more interested in school, but i noticed that they did segregate, probably because they were so different.</p>

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<p>People with diferent political opinions will never stay together for a long time, that has been always the case.</p>

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<p>

Not if you're a loner.
I am the only one from my country in my college. So that would be something. But there will be Internationals of similar backgrounds and aspirations.
But I have decided to settle this race issue by completely disregarding it. I will give priority to being friends with other races and will embrace novelties with open arms.</p>