Students, faculty and staff frequently discuss and debate diversity at C of C. To allow the students to have a voice, and to answer their questions about diversity on campus, the Office of Institutional Diversity held a student town hall Feb. 18.
“The State of Diversity at C of C: Past, Present and Future” was to open the floor for students to ask questions about the current state of diversity on campus, and how to bring students of all races and cultures to the College.
“The primary purpose is to come together as a campus community to assess the state of diversity here at the College,” said Dr. John Bello-Ogunu, Sr., Chief Officer of Diversity. “You cannot prepare for the future unless you know where you are at the present, and understand how you got there.”
Students attending the town hall feel that the lack of diversity on campus is an important issue that the College should take steps in changing.
“I am really interested in diversity on campus,” said junior April Williams. “I would like to see a more diverse range of people, more international, because you can learn a lot from other people.”
Bello-Ogunu said that the College wants to work directly with students to understand the state of diversity on campus.
“[We want to] work with you, the future leaders of the nation and world, to understand and be educated on diversity at C of C,” Bello-Ogunu said. “To gather the necessary information to help our campus in making it one of the best and truly diverse campuses in the country.”
Williams said the College should seek diversity in the student body.
“[The College should be] more open to welcoming prospective minority students and be more open and engaging,” Williams said. “[The College is] intimidating with the ‘rich kids’ reputation.”
Williams said she was surprised about the lack of minority students on campus when she first started at the College.
“On the first day of class I felt like I was the only black person. It can be difficult,” Williams said. “Sometimes in class when certain subjects come up, it’s an experience.”
Sophomore Delonta Jones said he came to the town hall meeting to see what the College’s position on diversity was.
“I wanted to see what the diversity standpoint was on campus, and how [the College] can change to make it better,” Jones said.
Jones said that the College should recruit more minorities in high schools.
“[The College should] be a more inviting school, academically and presentation-wise, and financially,” Jones said.
Jones said he also had mixed emotions about the lack of minorities on campus when he first started at the College.
“I was a little shocked, not surprised, there are no minorities,” Jones said. “I did feel a little uncomfortable in my classes at first, but then I got used to it.”
The staff wants to work with the students to create an accepting environment, Bello-Ogunu said.
“We want to work with you as students to create a campus that is supportive and nurturing, regardless of race,” Bello-Ogunu said. “Be free to ask questions, don’t be shy. You can make a difference with what you say.”
Students should not focus on the past of the College to help make the present and future better, Bello-Ogunu said.
“We are all aware of the past on any college campus, which was predominately white,” Bello-Ogunu said. “What we have learned from the past, we can channel those mistakes into positive energy making the world a better place starting with the College community.”
The town hall was guided by three questions for the students, Bello-Ogunu said.
“What is your perception of the state of diversity at C of C? What do you see as some of the major challenges in the state of diversity? And what are your recommendations and suggestions in increasing diversity?” Bello-Ogunu said.
Bello-Ogunu said that recruiting black students is not enough to spread diversity on campus.
“It’s not enough to recruit. In order to retain [students] we must be prepared to provide necessary support,” Bello-Ogunu said. “Information and publicity is not enough. Recruitment and retainment go hand in hand. We must be willing to provide the necessary solutions.”
The College is not only trying to recruit minority students, but faculty and staff as well.
“If you have a significant number of faculty of color, we are more likely to attract students of color,” Bello-Ogunu said. “It is very important to pursue our goals as far as diversity is concerned, while creating a welcoming and supportive environment.”
Bello-Ogunu hopes to move forward and make diversity a top issue on campus.
“We need a strategic direction to know whether or not we are meeting our goals,” Bello-Ogunu said. “[Diversity is] an integral part of every component of the university.”