<p>calm down, wow. Give the kid a break mom. He just mistyped.</p>
<p>If there's a simple typo I missed there somewhere that explains it all away, then my apologies, for certain.</p>
<p>It's all a matter of perspective. </p>
<p>When my D applied to boarding sch and student guides touted their respective school's diversity, I'd ask the guide approx what percentage of the students were black. The response was always 20-25%. Then I'd pull out a year book or directory and count head - - the head count never produced a figure higher than 8-9%. What I considered to be only "a few," the White guides considered to be "alot" b/c whatever the number, it was more black students than they were used to seeing (or living with!).</p>
<p>Althought by no means a majority, 40% is significant - - it's more than the number of men on some college campuses (like Goucher and Wheaton). And some applicants, like my d, have indeed said "too many girls" or "not enoguh boys." (Admittedly, not nearly as offensive as references to race or religion.) And not to excuse GoPack's comments, but he is entitled to his opinion, unenlightened though it may be. And these posts are of little value if writers are discouraged from speaking freely.</p>
<p>Also, I see no reluctance to say that something is "too black" - - only a reluctance to make the statement in a forum where you might get called on it. (I notice that you didn't take offense at GoPack's comments regarding low SAT scores of black students in the p/t and night divisions.)</p>
<p>A--I know nothing about the SAT scores of students in the part-time and night divisions of Tulane. Therefore, I have no basis for opinion there. I gave GoPack the benefit of the doubt and assumed that his statements about those scores were based on knowledge of the facts, not on racism. Based on the rest of your message, I assume you're not implying otherwise.</p>
<p>B--I never suggested that GoPack--or anyone else, for that matter, could not express whatever benighted opinion he or she holds on these fora. That is for the moderators to control. All I ask is that opinions that edge toward the thoughtless be given some thought when someone, in this particular case, this poster, points out that further thought is called for.</p>
<p>NYC - What you describe at the boarding schools may be going on here too. The numbers I've seen indicate that the number of Jewish students at Tulane is more in the 25-30% range, as in the following from the national Hillel site:</p>
<p>Undergraduate Population: 7862
Graduate Population: 2687
Jewish Enrollment:
Jewish Undergraduate Population: 2000 (approx.)
Jewish Graduate Population: 500 (approx.)</p>
<p>Ctymom... I also cringed at the use of the phrase "The Jewish question" but decided it was an innocent use of the term, although for many people, it sure is a loaded phrase, and you are correct to note that so that in the future GoPack and others will understand that many anti-semitic people in history, like the Nazis, used the phrase "the Jewish question." After your post, I went back and reread GoPack's post. Statements like "I dont really have a problem with this," "the majority of them are well off and do flaunt there money," and "all of the Hillel and Shabbat quickies do get in your face" make me cringe even more. </p>
<p>I think that people don't always realize that the words they choose provide a window into what may be unconscious biases. I think that GoPack meant well but you make several good, well needed points. Thank you.</p>
<p>first of all, i'd like to applaud all you parents for having this interesting discussion; it has really intrigued me. I will be going to tulane next fall and i was wondering if i would be considered part of that 40% jewish population. Now, hear me out---im one of those kids that proclaims to be "half-jewish," mainly due to my heritage and my mom being raised with a hanukah, excuse me, chanukah, bush at christmastime. I've been to a few bar/bat-mitzvahs, recited the prayer at chanukah, and made a few bucks finding the matza during passover. I also celebrate christmas, easter, and the the fourth of july. I don't know hebrew, nor have i ever studied the torah, bible, or koran. I have spent the majority of the sundays in my life at softball tournaments, and the last time i was inside a church was for a wedding. All of my cousins, as well as my little brother, my best friend, and at least 23 people in my public high school have been raised this way. So, what percentage would you consider us in?</p>
<p>I guess my real point was that I hope it doesn't much matter except in what you bring to the table to share. Sounds like a lot!</p>
<p>Catagorize this, you point out a very relevent fact. We are all individuals. We may share certain characteristics (race, religion, personality type, interests, etc.), but in the end we are who we are. It sounds like you "fit" in many places. Lucky you. Enjoy Tulane. I think Tulane will be enjoying you!</p>
<p>We are indeed who we are and I too hope Catagorize will be happy at Tulane.</p>
<p>But being Jewish (or half-Jewish) or White ethnic or gay/lesbian is quite different than being of color. The black population at many colleges is 2-4%(Colorado College 2%, Lehigh 3%, Bucknell 3% Hamilton 4%, Scripps 3%). Tulane reports 8-9%, but GoPack suggests that figure to be inflated. Please consider how these numbers play out. Again using my D's school as an example: of the 460 students, 39 are African-Amer (+2-4 black foreign students). This means only 21 black girls in the school and my D is one of 5 in her grade (total 59 junior girls). (Still better numbers than our local public school gifted program.) </p>
<p>At 5% - - still higher than many prestig colleges - - those numbers drop to 23 total black students, 12 black girls and my D being 1 of 3 in her grade. Admittedly, at a larger school you get critical mass (LAC of 2000 x 3% = 60 black students), but who wouldn't feel uncomfortable and "the other" is such an environment!?! And that, I believe, was Miguel's original point.</p>
<p>Now we have graffiti on the glass walls down the residence halls! I love them! I really don't know who put those up but they're really insightful and artistic at the meantime. It reads something like this, "No Diversity At Tulane? Short, Gay, Tall, middle-class, African, Jewish, Asian, White, Muslim, Hinduism..." The list goes on and on. Very interesting. I was wondering if you guys noticed it or not when you visited campus a lil bit earlier. Wish I could post the pic online so that everybody could see it. I think Tulane's embracing diversity in various categories.</p>
<p>
[quote]
If youre a minority there's no way in hell you should go to Tulane. That school is a rich Jewish white kid's wet dream. You'd think there'd at least be some blacks on campus, but nope. And if you're Hispanic like me (viva mi raza) you're really screwed. They don't even have construction workers that are hispanic let alone faculty. It's kind of disgusting. So, if you're minority avoid Tulane like the plague. BTW, the Asian population is even smaller.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>true.</p>
<p>There's not a big black population, despite being located in a city where blacks are the majority.</p>
<p>I tried counting all the spanish people i could see, and i didn't see any. :)
No hispanic individuals in sight.</p>
<p>There's asians, but not alot. </p>
<p>Take this person's advice to heart, since he/she is a student at tulane.</p>
<p>hnubi: If you had bothered to read the entire thread you would see miguel went through a growth process in coming to terms with the lack of diversity at Tulane. For you to jump on, and quote his first statement, without acknowldeging his subsequent statemnets is misleading. You have had an axe to grind with Tulane since before you ever began as a student there: you complained about fees, and on and on. I think it is time for you to just get over it and focus your energies on your transfer attempts.</p>
<p>Tulane has problems with diversity, and it is TRYING to address those problems. What are you doing to make the situtaion better?</p>
<p>
[quote]
Tulane has problems with diversity, and it is TRYING to address those problems. What are you doing to make the situtaion better?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Why should i do something?</p>
<p>"I tried counting all the spanish people i could see, and i didn't see any."</p>
<p>hnbui - Maybe the problem is you are burdened with a few racial stereotypes and and you expect all hispanics to look like the Frito Bandito. Why don't you try checking out your schools economics faculty. I see 3 guys who got their degrees in Uruguay and Brazil. I kind of suspect that makes them Latino.</p>
<p>Because, as was once said hnubi: "You are either part of the problem, or part of the solution." You want more diversity, lobby for it, hold a rally, write letters, do something. If all you do is complain, you are just part of the problem.</p>
<p>well considering i'm no longer a student at tulane, i really don't see how i can do anything.</p>
<p>You can even say i contributed to the problem :)</p>
<p>"well considering i'm no longer a student at tulane",</p>
<p>Good luck at Cornell hnbui. I hope you are happier in your new surroundings.</p>
<p>Good luck to you hnubi</p>
<p>I don't think hnbui, if he's unwilling to struggle w/ Tulane, is "part of the problem." </p>
<p>Since most schools claim that they are "TRYING to address" their diversity problem, I see nothing wrong with commenting on a school's success (or lack thereof). And while majority students may be comfortable w/ the those efforts and the pace of change, URM parents/students may see things differently.</p>
<p>You (plural) acknowledge that Tulane has a diversity problem. But if hnbui's inaction is part of the problem, that must be equally true for most of the posters and most of the students/faculty, as well. </p>
<p>I fully appreciate that Tulane is trying to address its diversity problem - - but whether its efforts are sufficient or have been successful are a matter of opinion, and one may opine "not good enough," even if one is not a campus diversity activist.</p>
<p>nyc, I agree with you that it is fair to comment on, and raise awareness of, an exisiting problem. However, IMHO, once you go beyond raising that awareness, you should be prepared to either help, or get out of the way. </p>
<p>My problem with hnubi's post is that he really wasn't trying to raise awareness, offer solutions, or even get out of the way. What he did was quote in toto miguel's orginal (and very valid) observation, without acknowledging how those original comments were then discussed, and how miguel came to decide that he would becaome part of the "solution." </p>
<p>Really, what hnubi was doing was taking one last "swipe" at Tulane as he walked out the door. That is not fair comment, it is a cheap shot.</p>