TO THE EDITOR:
UNC takes great pride in being a “diverse” university. However, we should not hold the false impression that diversity has already been “reached” on campus. True diversity cannot be achieved through merely satisfying quotas. Diversity must go beyond admissions, to see the full integration and equality of opportunities, support and resources for all students.
Both the majority and the minority have a role to play in improving UNC’s diversity. Primarily, it is crucial for the various minority groups on campus to tackle their inner divisions and choose to build formative bridges instead of dividing barriers between student organizations.
What does it help if we are only concerned about the success of our own personal organizations and neglect the greater membership of the collective minority? The provision of mutual support and participation is of much greater importance. Without this unification, the minority is a “house divided against itself” — which will impede the development of diversity on campus.
However, members of the majority must also play the role of being aware, concerned and devoted to the breakdown of stereotypes, discrimination and separation between racial, ethnic and socioeconomic groups. Members of the majority must be open to inclusion and be involved in the support and participation of diversity efforts on campus in order to truly engender widespread change and progress.
Diversity is a process that can continually improve. UNC is not diverse, and to claim otherwise is to forfeit the fight for equality and justice. Let us not be complacent but choose to continue the pursuit of integration and equality so that all students have the ability to succeed and feel at home on campus.
Kristen Gardner
Freshman
Global studies
