University diversity lacking, students say

By Chris DaCosta

Many minority students say that Santa Clara is not diverse enough, despite the university's development of the Multicultural Center.

According to the Office of Institutional Research, ethnic minorities have comprised approximately 35 percent of the last five freshmen classes. This trend suggests there will not be much difference in the ethnic representation for the class of 2006; the exact percentage is yet to be determined.

Some students feel that the current ethnic distribution at Santa Clara is too low, however.

"If I was just walking around campus, I would think it was 15 to 20 percent minority, because I just don't really see it," said sophomore Jasmine Moore.

Corroborating Moore's comment is Irish American sophomore, Jim Hutchinson. "Santa Clara has been somewhat of an oasis for the white privileged," he said.

The apparent lack of diversity at Santa Clara has also been identified by students from other schools. UC-Berkeley sophomore, Roshan Rahnama, came to visit a friend on campus last year.

"Having gone to a mostly Caucasian high school, I expected Santa Clara to be vastly different," Rahnama said. "Instead, I was shocked to find that the campus was predominantly white."

This notion extends beyond the gardens of the 104-acre campus and into some classrooms. "In 90 percent of my classes, I am the only black person," Moore said.

Moore is not alone. The Office of Institutional Research found that in the 2001-02 academic year, there were six Native American business majors in the Leavey School of Business, made up of 1,229 other majors.

Other minority students such as sophomore marketing major Jennifer Chiang, have had different experiences. "When I go to class, I see a good amount of minorities," Chiang said.

Senior Daniela Mejias, former Unity resident assistant and current Casa Italiana Community Facilitator (CF) said, "Some non-minority students may feel uncomfortable walking into Unity, saying that they feel uncomfortable because they are in the minority, but that is how most minorities feel everyday when walking into class."

While some minorities are more underrepresented than others, minority students have become accustomed to seeing few ethnically familiar faces. "As a minority you look around and you are lucky or almost surprised to see someone the same race as you," said sophomore, Unity CF, Janelle Carter.

Carter realized that many students had misconceptions about the ethnic distribution of the residence hall. "In the past, Unity has been predominantly minorities and because of that, other people have a kind of given it the connotation as the "multicultural" dorm," said Carter.

According to Carter, Unity's Residential Learning Community is multiculturalism-themed; it is not just a building specifically for minority students, though they tend to be attracted to the theme more than others.

In search of finding something to identify with, some minorities find solace in classes focusing on issues concerning ethnic background and heritage.

"Unfortunately, my Asian American history class was almost entirely Asian and was not a good reflection of diversity," Chiang said. "I do think it is a shame, I think other people should learn about all sorts of cultures, not just their own."

Despite the university's ethnic or gender studies core requirement, more and more students notice those classes being dominated by minorities. "I feel like a minority when I am in my Black history class," said sophomore James Randles.

Kendra Boyd, senior political science major, ethnic studies minor and Multicultural Center (MCC) Director, said that the Santa Clara campus does not have nearly enough diversity.

"The campus is 60 percent white and that other 40 percent is not enough representation," Boyd said, adding that the university has tried to assist the situation with the development of the MCC.

Yet, according to some students, the MCC has further isolated minorities within the MCC. "One of the goals of the MCC is to reach out to the rest of campus and educate people about other cultures, anyone is welcome at the MCC," Boyd said.

"But I do think that the existence of a Multicultural Center is an indication that the campus is not diverse; there would be no need for such a center if the campus was fully diverse, if there was no need of the MCC we would truly be a melting pot."

In light of current and foreign affairs, Boyd believes the university should attempt to further diversify the campus, by targeting prospective students of lower socio-economic backgrounds, instead of those of the traditional, upper-class Jesuit high schools which normally associate with Santa Clara.

"Due to our relations and interactions with other countries, schools nationwide will need to recognize the need for the education of people who identify with different cultures or those who look different," she said.