An article published in the
Aug. 27 issue of The Appalachian reported freshmen minority enrollment
numbers could be the highest in Appalachian State University’s
history.
While this achievement attests to the growing effectiveness of
attempts to increase diversity at Appalachian, the increase should
also be taken with a grain of salt.
The number of confirmed freshmen minority students for this fall
is 221, according to Tracey Wright, director of Multicultural
Student Development.
Compared with 2001-2002 enrollment figures, which were 123 minority
freshman, this year’s number shows a growth of 98 students.
This number is also the largest increase in the past five years,
according to Appalachian’s 2001-2002 Fact Book.
We applaud this growth and expect to see even more effective and
visible tactics to recruit minorities in the future.
But some perspective on the issue is also essential.
The total freshmen population for this school year, still tentative,
is 2,444. Thus, 2,223 freshman students are Caucasian. The numbers
speak for themselves as to the continuing state of racial diversity
on Appalachian’s campus.
The correction of this obvious crack in the structure of our school
will often be an uphill battle against culture, tradition and
often misconceptions about the university and the surrounding
High Country.
Such is the face of racial diversity efforts at Appalachian and
around the country. But this problem can also serve a purpose.
The real question can finally be reexamined. What is true diversity
and how does it apply to the everyday learning environment of
Appalachian’s campus?
In the face of limited racial diversity, what are members of the
Appalachian community doing to create and foster an environment
that not only looks diverse because of the skin color of its students,
but that is diverse in knowledge and understanding, in belief,
in political affiliation, in religion?
We at Appalachian must be sure to look at a complete definition
of diversity and not just one that is politically correct.
A diverse environment does indeed make people smarter.
However, more minority students in every classroom doesn’t
necessarily ensure a diverse learning environment, and recruiting
minority students isn’t the only path to that kind of environment.
We welcome this new class of freshmen and its minority population,
the largest ever, and hope your stay here at Appalachian is a
great learning experience. We encourage you to immerse yourself
into the unique university and mountain cultures and fully receive
the benefits they can offer.
But we also welcome the Appalachian community to a new understanding
of diversity and encourage reflection upon creating the kind of
learning environment that is truly diverse and includes all aspects
of people and of life, not just race. |
