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Minority Roundtable discusses lack of diversity on campus
Cecily Long & Crystal Eldridge
Issue date: 10/5/06 Section: News
Source: The Herald

Jennifer Mose, a junior marketing major of Wynne, gestures during the minority roundtable Tuesday night.

When walking on campus, have you ever noticed that there is a division among ethnic groups?

This division was discussed at the Minority Roundtable held Tuesday during which students discussed various diversity issues on campus.

It was established so that all students can be heard and tell the Student Government Association what issues of diversity they feel need to be addressed and dealt with.

The main issues discussed in the meeting included the lack of diversity among various student organizations, such as Greek Life, the lack of comfort felt by the international students on campus and the general interaction of the student body when it comes to diversity.

Everyone agreed that ASU is heading in the direction of a more diverse climate but that there is still much work to be done. Participants in the discussion noted that students have fears of stepping out of their "comfort zones" and involving themselves in the different organizations on campus.

The president of the International Students Association, Trish Chibune, expressed concerns that the international students do not feel included on campus.

Many of the students in the meeting agreed that not only is it the administration's and the student body's responsibility to encourage diversity on campus, but also it is the individual student's.

A.J. Colman, president of the NAACP student chapter and a member of Black Students Association, stressed how their organization is open to everyone but that certain ethnicities don't seem to be comfortable with attending their various events.

This could be because many students do not realize that BSA events aren't just for African-American students. Other minority student organizations such as NAACP are also open to everyone but not many students know that, Colman said.

Even though the issues discussed were serious, the atmosphere of the meeting was relaxed.

Once students felt comfortable they were able to bring up issues they thought were most important. The roundtable was established so that all students could discuss what issues of diversity need to be addressed to the SGA. Tamika Keener, who organized the table, encouraged the group to be honest and open about their opinions. Keener, who is also the chair of SGA's Cultural Diversity Committee, kept flow of the meeting calm.

Participants of the round table included. President of the NAACP, Coleman; president of the International Students Association, Chibune; Vice President of the ISA and international student senator Paida Sigauke; SGA Junior Senator Jennifer Moser; SGA Senior Senator, and Vice President for Brother-2-Brother Morgan Pippin; Vice President of the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Keitra Murphy; SGA Freshmen Senator Sharnea Diggs

Students who have concerns about the diverse climate on campus and how they need to be addressed or would just like to know what is going with minority affairs should contact the Cultural Diversity Committee of SGA or the Office of Multicultural Affairs. There will be another Minority Roundtable meeting during the spring semester.