Defining diversity

Temple reflects diversity.

It is hard not to notice this just walking around Main Campus. While interaction among students of different cultures, races and creeds appears to have increased commendably, there still seems to be a measure of division within the Temple community.

Classrooms, streets and buildings like the SAC, Tuttleman and Paley Library feature some of the best areas to catch a glimpse of Temple’s diverse population because these are often filled with student activity.

But there is just as much division as there is multicultural interaction. A considerable number of students continue to interact only with people who belong to the same race and share similar religious beliefs and cultural values.

Such division is demonstrated most often when students leave class after a lecture. Indian-American students will be on one side, continental Africans on one, African-American students on another, White-Americans and Asian-Americans on the other.

It is not very helpful for a university to be satisfied with its diversity when there doesn’t seem to be enough communication among the students who supposedly constitute it.

It is important for Temple students to learn about different cultures. In celebration of this year’s Spring Fling events, organizations on campus worked tirelessly to attract students of diverse ancestry to their festivities.

Yet because of the misperception that most of these events are geared toward entertaining people of a particular ethnic group, race or creed, many students decide to stay away.

In accordance with this school of thought, a hip-hop dance party implies a celebration for African-American students, an African cultural festival is “for Africans only” and any event with predominantly alternative and rock music is for white students.

As Temple students, we are challenged to uphold the diversity of our university. This would mean developing an interest in learning about different cultures and people, interacting peacefully with each other and avoiding prejudice, assumption and stereotypes.

Otherwise our university will remain diverse in appearance but not in practice.