ND? Diversity?

<p>I just wanted to know... I was thinking U of I in Urbana or Notre Dame.... i was hoping i wouldnt get any money from notre dame so it would force me to go to U of I... but fortunately i got a lot.. so... </p>

<p>Diversity is kind of important for me.. I guess i like being in the "asian" pack.. but i was just wondering is there any diversity at all because when i visited i literally only saw six minorities... and reading other rankings notre dame ranks among the least in terms of diversity...</p>

<p>Just wondering what current students, admitted students who have actually stayed there, and other alumns think..</p>

<p>Thanks</p>

<p>Notre Dame is predominantly white, yes. But there are definitely "asian" packs that you refer to. There isn't much racial diversity (geographic diversity, hell yes), but there are definitely a good # of Asians on campus.</p>

<p>I'm white, but I think I'd definitely feel like more of an "outsider" if I was African-American, Middle-Eastern, or Indian. According to the collegeboard, ND is 8% Asian, compared to 12% at U of I Urbana. Not a significant difference.</p>

<p>Come to South Bend!</p>

<p>I went to an Asians only party this weekend. It was fun. There are plenty of Asian folks here on campus. Besides, ND>>>>>>U of I</p>

<p>If "diversity" is important to you, then why do you (who are presumably Asian) want to be part of an "Asian pack?" </p>

<p>Just trying to figure out how this would read -- "Diversity is important to me. I'd like to be part of the "white pack" at Berkeley/MIT, but when I visiited there were only ten other white people and everyone else was Asian or Indian."</p>

<p>Usually, when people use the word "diversity," they mean "I don't want to go to a school where everyone looks just like me," not "I don't want to go to a school where my ethnic group is in the minority."</p>

<p>And don't even get me started on "I went to a white only party this weekend. It was fun."</p>

<p>What ever happened to relating to your fellow students as individuals, rather than as members of this or that separate racial/ethnic group????</p>

<p>You have to see this from the original poster's viewpoint.</p>

<p>To minorities, attending a college means that leaving behind family members who share a common culture or background based on ethnicity.</p>

<p>After being used to your own culture, it is difficult to live without its influence.</p>

<p>This is why people often migrate into groups that share cultural similarity. Hence, you have clubs like Korean association or Indian society. It is a way for minorities to maintain a connection with their heritage and even discuss their struggles in the United States with those of same background.</p>

<p>It's not necessarily limited to minorities though. For example, an American student could move to Japan and struggle with cultural differences. Naturally, he or she would gravitate toward someone from the United States to talk about his or her struggle and find comfort.</p>

<p>Others and even some minorities may see that as self-segregation, and I completely understand that perspective. These groups do alienate themselves in a way. Personally, I think it is self-segregation if these people shun others who have different backgrounds and think themselves as superior to other cultures. If these people invite everyone to raise cultural awareness and maintain their heritage at the same time through certain events like a special dinner or a cultural fair, then I think it is totally fine.</p>

<p>I think you are seeing "diversity" as a representation of different qualities in terms of ethinicity and culture. (Black, white, yellow, Hindi, Muslim, Jew, etc.)</p>

<p>From my viewpoint as a South Korean person, diversity is more of a presense of acceptance and respect toward different cultures. Being accepted for who I am and treated equally is the utmost concern for me when it comes to diversity. I think that's what the original poster meant as well. I hope.</p>

<p>Diversity is a conflicted topic for minorities, and there is no definite answer to that for now. We have to balance maintaining our cultural background with fitting into a new culture. It is a complex double consciousness that DuBois discussed. </p>

<p>I hope you got a sense of what diversity means to a South Korean minority.</p>

<p>By the way, I'm not too keen on cultural groups. Like I said, it does separate a specific group from others indirectly. Although these clubs often exist to promote cultural awareness, that doesn't seem like their main priority when in action. This probably sends a somewhat isolating vibe to the whites and other minority groups, and it repeats itself in every cultural group. The blacks, Hispanics, etc. They all stick to themselves. And cultural differences play a huge role in that. It really will be wonderful when we are able to interact with each other as fellow individuals. However, it seems like that kind of relationship will take a long time to develop...</p>

<p>I understand what you are saying. In my view, the original poster should have been honest in his question, which was really "Are there enough Asians at Notre Dame to make me feel comfortable?" and not "Is Notre Dame a 'diverse' campus?"</p>

<p><em>sigh</em> Asian pack? Please, lets not go back to the 8th grade.</p>

<p>Lol, PCB, it wasn't exactly an Asians-only party. Non-Asians were invited too... :)</p>

<p>Anyway, there are definitely plenty of Asians on campus and some of them hang out in packs, some of them hang out with multi-ethnic groups, and some do a bit of both. There are also lots of Asian cultural groups on campus to get involved in, such as the Asian American Association, Korean Student Association, Vietnamese Student Association, and the Chinese Culture Society (which you should definitely join, even if you aren't Chinese- I'm not, and I'm co-president).</p>

<p>I'm a Korean myself but when i went to visit ND last week, I didn't feel like an outsider or anything. Sure there are no Asian students travelling in "packs" like at college where Asians are over represented minorities (JHU, UCLA, etc) but the atmosphere was really welcoming at ND. </p>

<p>When I had the fat envelope in my hands, I was overcome with joy, but at the same time, I had a small doubt whether I'd fit in or not. However, the overnight visit helped me know for sure that I will. What I also noticed was that many Asian students aren't in "packs" but they're well integrated part of multi-ethnic groups either in classroom or in dining halls. </p>

<p>That's just my thought. Besides, the class of 2011 is (according to the adcom) the most academically competetive and one of the most diverse classes the University has had. </p>

<p>Ultimately, what it comes down to is whether you can get the most out of what you're given. </p>

<p>Ooops... I've got to go and finish up calc review hw..</p>

<p>I was able to visit ND a couple months ago, and though I was a bit unsettled by how predominantly white it was (and I am an asian), it didn't scare me or make me uncomfortable at all. Everyone (no matter what race) that I met were very nice and helpful, even random students walking to class, and I'm sorry but I'm looking forward to meeting students other than my race, the "Asian Clique" always kind of scared me anyways :] If we all integrate at ND and get over this pack theory, it'll be better off for ND by actually showing that we DO have a cultural diversity, no lie.</p>

<p>If you desire to be part of an asian pack, you can be. I highly recommend against it though. I am asian and have friends of all different types of people. I do not hang out with primarily asians but if you so with, you can because there are certainly many on campus. </p>

<p>On another note, I agree with Claremarie. </p>

<p>And on yet another note, the Koreans on campus tend to clump together and form culturally and racially exclusive "packs." If you want, you can join them.</p>