Diversity through Anthropology

Diversity may be achieved through a variety of methods. Affirmative action in a business environment may create a more diverse workforce. Bussing in public schools may introduce a more diverse student body to a school that previously wasn't. It's a personal decision to choose to become more tolerant of diversity, and the same is true here at Ole Miss. In our anthropology department, becoming educated and more tolerant of diversity is as easy as showing up for one of Dr. Robbie Ethridge’s lectures.

Dr. Ethridge, a cultural anthropologist, author, and Ole Miss professor of anthropology, leads classes that concern a variety of anthropological topics. Her classes range anywhere from studies of the Environmental History of the South, surveys of specific Native American cultures, to graduate research seminars. Despite her wide range of course study, they all concern one thing; diversity.

“By definition, anthropology is the study of diversity. Students who take anthropology courses get exposed to many different cultures and many different kinds of people around the world, ways of thinking about the world, and looking at the world,” said Ethridge.

In her book Creek Country: The Creek Indians and their World, Ethridge explores the cultural significance of the native tribe that called the southeastern United States their home. Some may have even lived around the area where the University of Mississippi is located. While she only explores this one native culture in her book, understanding one culture may help us better understand others.

Maggie Coakley, 21, who is currently taking Dr. Ethridge’s “Native Americans and the Natural World” course here at Ole Miss, feels like classes that cover cultural diversity topics should be required as a means to encourage people to be more open-minded.

“I feel like if more people took classes like this, then they would understand why people around them are different. Maybe they wouldn’t think others are ‘wrong’ because they dress or look differently. It should be required,” said Coakley.

Coakley’s opinion reinforces exactly the idea that Dr. Ethridge is trying to promote through her classes. She thinks that through study of diverse cultures we may understand exactly how we are all different, and then we will finally understand how we are all the same.

“Students who take anthropology come away with a better sense of the diversity in the world and the global forces that unite us all as well. It’s not just the diversity here, it’s the commonalities,” said Ethridge.

Despite the immense geographical distances that separate different cultures, the study of these people, thousands of miles away, may help us to better understand the differences of someone that is sitting right next to us.

LGBT Community at Ole Miss (video)

LGBT Community at Ole Miss (Video)

Diversity on Campus Beyond Black and White Stereotypes

Minorities in the South are traditionally seen as African Americans, but the university hosts many other cultures. Carolina Orrego, the assistant director of enrollment services, immigrated to Florida in 2000 from Columbia.

In Feb. of 2011 she became a U.S. citizen, but the process began in June of 2010, after she had been a permanent resident for five years and became eligible for citizenship.

For Orrego this was a long time goal she had been looking forward to.

“To me it was just more exciting because it was finally the time I was going to be able to do something that I’ve been wanting to do since I got here,” Orrego said. “[The naturalization test] wasn’t hard because I have a background in political science.

The ceremony took place in Oxford, but Orrego said that she preferred it because of the more intimate feel than in her hometown Orlando, FL.

“[In Oxford] it is not something that happens every weekend like it does in Florida because there are so many immigrants there and here they made such a big deal about it. Even the mayor of Oxford was at the ceremony,” Orrego said.

Orrego’s colleague and friend John Welch attended the ceremony in support of Orrego.

“The ceremony was really great and it made me feel patriotic. It was great to see so many different countries represented in Oxford because some of them are students here,” Welch said.

Coworker Lauren Unacpher Stokes said it was great how big a community event it was.

“It wasn’t just her becoming a citizen, the whole office got together to celebrate,” Stokes said.

Orrego said no one in the admissions office had ever seen a naturalization ceremony or even knew of anyone who had been naturalized.

This lack of diversity is difficult for Orrego, especially when trying to convey a message about diversity to those students who have never left the state. Orrego considers these individuals to be in a bubble and until they come to college or travel they don’t realize what diversity is.

“We have 19 percent of minority students on campus, but that’s really not a lot,” Orrego said. “For [students] what is a minority? Most of the time it’s just African American and if you’re not African American, but you’re still a minority you’re considered an international student and that’s kind of crazy.”

The effort the University’s students and faculties are putting into diversity awareness manifests itself in One Mississippi and Diversity Rocks.

One Mississippi is a club on campus that promotes tolerance among different ethnicities by discussing social issues involving race.

Diversity Rocks was a weeklong event that brought in speakers to discuss different types of minorities to lead to a better understanding and acceptance of others.

“I think there is some awareness being developed about diversity, but I think it will take a while for Ole Miss to really be diverse,” Orrego said. “But maybe with all the out of state students coming in, it will make a big difference.”

Video: http://youtu.be/_YmXPjDJ5oI

For more information on Diversity Rocks visit: http://zing.olemiss.edu/diversity-rocks-begins-april-25-at-ole-miss-j-school/

LGBT Community at Ole Miss

Matthew Bishop

JOUR 102 Sec 4

8 May 2011

LGBT Community at Ole Miss

There has been a spike in suicides the last year by many gay teenagers and young adults mainly caused by repetitive bullying and public humiliation.

The most widely publicized of this occurrence is the suicide of Rutgers freshman Tyler Clemente who reportedly jumped off a bridge after his roommate posted a video of him having a sexual encounter with another man.

But how are the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered) students being treated here at Ole Miss? You might just be surprised.

The LGBT community at Ole Miss is much larger than one would imagine at an estimated 10% of the student population. That is according to Vicki Mahan who is the employee assistance program coordinator at the Student Counseling Center on campus.

Mahan said that there are two contributing factors as to why many students and faculty don’t recognize that there is a significant LGBT community here at the university.

First is that many of the students and faculty are in denial that there is even an LGBT community and secondly is that there is vast numbers of LGBT students who are still “in the closet”.

The majority of issues that LGBT students come to Mahan to talk about is being accepted into their family or religion.

“Many of their religions say they are doomed, which is pretty hard when your trying to accept yourself.” Mahan said.

However there have been some instances of friction between a straight students and a LGBT student such as when a student came to Mahan to complain about some people in his dorm who graffitied derogatory remarks on his door.

Emily Perkins who is a lesbian student at Ole Miss says that she has not been harassed or humiliated at Ole Miss and said that most people here are very accepting. She does say however that there is a difference between the treatment of gay men versus gay women.

“I think the gay guys have it much worse because straight men don’t seem to be as open minded.” Perkins said.

Perkins did mention however that some of her other lesbian friends who are in sororities sometimes have a hard time fitting in with the other sorority girls especially at events where they have a mixer with a male fraternity.

Mahan is however trying to better integrate LGBT students into the community as well as educate straight faculty and students through her Allies program. The program informs faculty and students about issues involving LGBT students. It is also their so that a faculty member who is an ally can hang up a symbol on their door which signifies that an LGBT student can speak openly with them about any issues that they may be having.

If you are an LGBT student and are currently having any social issues you can stop by the counseling center located across the street from Bishop hall or you can visit websites such as www.thetrevorproject.org and www.itgetsbetter.org.

Difference Between African American and Caucasian Sororities

The University of Mississippi’s Greek life is alive and thriving, with African American and Caucasian students. Ole Miss is known for its Greek life, where while walking around campus one would see people proudly representing their affiliation.

Greek life between African Americans and Caucasians has similarities and differences.

With the Caucasian sororities on campus rush begins in mid October. Rush is a weeklong process where the women attend each house and get to know each sorority a little better each night that they are invited back. It also involves a ranking system, both the sorority and the woman who is rushing have to rank. With this rush there must be a mutual liking from both the sorority and the woman.

For the women going through rush it is a very nerve racking experience. But for the women on the other side of rush, who have already been through the process, they find it to be a fun but tiring experience.

Marie Elise Williams, a sophomore Chi Omega, said, “Rush is so much fun, getting to meet all of the women that you have heard so much about is awesome.”

For the women who are already affiliated with a sorority, rush consists of studying all of the rushees faces, learning their name, hometown, GPA, and also extracurricular activities. The reason for having to learn all of this is so that while in the rush process you will have something to talk about with them and hopefully will help the situation to be less awkward.

For the women going through rush there are certain requirements that they must have to go through the process. They must have at least a 2.5 GPA, the reason sororities have this requirement is because each chapter on campus tries to have the highest GPA.

“There is a huge competition to have the highest GPA on campus, we all try to beat each other,” said Williams. They must also have recommendations from former members of that certain sorority. This way the members of that chapter can learn more personal information about the rushee.

Each sorority is responsible for donating money to their philanthropy. Philanthropy is an organization or charity that the sorority has decided that they would like to help. Most sororities hold some type of gathering where food is served; whether it is a crawfish broil or a spaghetti dinner.

With the African American sororities on the Ole Miss campus things work a little differently. The women are not allowed to rush until their sophomore year of college. Along with when they are allowed to rush the rush process happens a little differently. Instead of it having to be a mutual liking between both the sorority and rushee, the rushee herself has to go after the sorority and let them know that she wants them. She not only has to let them know she wants them she has to prove it to them.

Once the sorority has decided which women they believe truly want to be a part of their sorority they will give the rushee a call and inform her that she must attend the meeting. During this meeting the girls are all interviewed and also hear from that chapters advisors. After this meeting the women must wait for another phone call if they receive this phone call then they are officially a pledge for that sorority.

The pledge process lasts up to a month at the least. Throughout this time period the women are expected to be studying all of the sororities history and information. Once they are called back in they will be tested on this information. They are also expected to prove why they want to be affiliated with this particular sorority. The sorority is looking for someone who genuinely wants to be in the sorority and who likes what they stand for; they want to make sure that they don’t want to join just for the party.

Teresa Jones, a freshman at the university and a residential assistant, said, “I am very nervous, I have a lot of studying to do.”

To raise money for their philanthropy, African American sororities often hold step shows. A step show is a dance that is synchronized by hand and foot movements, along with singing, dancing, and chanting. They practice these dances for months. When they finally perform their dances the money they receive from the show goes to their philanthropy.

Once in the sorority they are expected to be in for life, after college they are still expected to uphold their sorority’s ideals and standards. Where as in Caucasian sororities normally after college they still stand for their sorority but they aren’t as affiliated with it anymore. Generally they only donate money, unless they are an advisor or housemother.

No matter if the way they go about rush is different, or how they raise money for their philanthropy, all the women love being a part of their sorority. They love having that sense of family while they are off at school. No matter what skin tone, all of the women would agree that their sisters tend to be their best friends for the rest of their lives. One has their real biological family but then one has their sorority family. The women that know everything about their sisters, the things that make her angry and the things that make her cry. Sorority sisters are sisters for life.

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http://www.chiomega.com/

http://www.aka1908.com/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXVl5WY5aWI

Recruitment Integration

The African American students at the University of Mississippi are gradually being accepted into the Greek system that formally involved only white students.

Greek life on campus at Ole Miss is predominately white males and females. The African American students have co-ed groups that act similarly to white sororities and fraternities.

In recent years African American students have desired to integrate these two Greek systems. When the black students first entered the white recruitment process a few years ago, most white people were outraged.

Laura Barrier, a Chi Omega, has opposing views on the integration of the Greek systems.

“It’s been a little uncomfortable for both sides, but it is getting more and more culturally accepted. The nature of integration allows room for improvement over the years and I think it will become much more widely accepted,” she says.

Kimbrely Dandridge, an African American sophomore, is an excellent example of this integration process.

Dandridge is the first ever African American Phi Mu at Ole Miss. She pledged Phi Mu in the fall of 2010, and is now the talk of the town.

Negative comments and hurtful words follow her every day, but Dandridge keeps a smile on her face to show everyone how she is not afraid of integration.

“Recently, a girl who condemned me for betraying my people came up to me and told me how proud she was of me. She said sorry and actually thought I was helping to improve the racial barriers,” she says.

African Americans in the white recruitment process still receive harsh words from just about everyone. Not many of them receive bids to sororities like Dandridge, but they still continue to strive to end segregation.

White parents and alumni of Ole Miss are hesitant to accept the fact of integration between the Greek systems, but the students seem to be more acceptant of it.

As recruitment continues year after year, only time will tell if the Greek integration process is a success.

http://www.olemiss.edu/orgs/panhellenic/Ole_Miss_Panhellenic_Council/Welcome.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXdrRo_jaRM

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Diversity Important Among the Student-Athletes

The diversity among the student-athletes at the University of Mississippi has played an important role in the lives of many athletes and in the athletic program as a whole.

Having athletes from different states, countries, and backgrounds has created an atmosphere where the students have a better understanding for people different from themselves.

“You have to have diversity, especially in athletic atmospheres because it's gonna push you as an athlete and as a student to do better,” Sara Grantham, who works at the student-athlete academic support center, said.

Being a student-athlete at Ole Miss gives you an opportunity to talk to people you normally wouldn't have talked to and to learn about cultures that you might not have otherwise, Grantham said.

On the track team, there are athletes from the United States, Sweden, Panama, and Kenya.

According to Alejandro Quintana, a distance runner on the track team, the diversity is good because getting to know foreign people makes you learn about lives and cultures different from your own. He emphasized how interesting it is to listen to the stories from the Kenyans on the team.

“It is just cool to get a different perspective on other people’s lives,” Quintana said.

“On the football team there is a whole lot of diversity,” D.T. Shackelford, who plays football for Ole Miss, said. Most of the over 100 players come from different states and home environments.

“It's actually a uniqueness of our team because everyone is not the same, and we all work together to achieve one goal and that is to win. You have to come together,” Shackelford said. “Everybody learns from each other, so diversity is very important.”

More information about the athletic program can be found at www.olemisssports.com.

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Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dw2iI8B8iXU&feature=related

Change Needed in Greek System

Fraternities and sororities that are historically made up of African American students are known as National Pan-Hellenic Council. Fraternities and sororities that participate in Recruitment belong to the Interfraternity Council and Panhellenic Council at the University of Mississippi.

It is said to believe that many people view these two separate greek organizations as a form of segregation embedded in Oxford, Mississippi many years ago.

Although few African Americans have gone through Panhellenic Council the majority of NPHC is African American and Panhellenic is Caucasian. These greek organizations are different many other ways. NPHC doesn't have houses on sorority or fraternity row and Recruitment is said to be more intense for the Interfraternity Council and Panhellenic Council.

Shelby Garrison, 22, from Richmond ,Virginia said " The University of Mississippi is not a very diverse school and the greek system is not diverse as well."

Diversity was born on this campus on October 1, 1962. James Meredith , the first black student at Ole Miss exemplifying the importance of unity and change needed in this world.

Megan Wright, a memeber of the Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority, said " I believe James Meredith would be proud to see both greek organizations combine into one. It would bring our school closer."

A diverse environment can open up one's mind and provide awareness of other's out in the real world.

Cory Daniels , 20, an Ole Miss student said "I never see many integrated groups of people here. Although many people say Ole Miss is very racist ,I don't that. I believe we haven't take the necessary action to bring Sorority and Fraternity row into a more diverse environment.

Daniels has attended this University for a few years now and hopes for a more diverse school for the sake of changing history and helping Ole Miss students become better people.

"I believe we can change for a better future."said Garrison.

my video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8b6w8mNNyU&feature=youtu.be

To see more about University of Mississippi Greek Life, click here http://www.olemiss.edu/orgs/panhellenic/Ole_Miss_Panhellenic_Council/Welcome.html

Diversity in the Greek System

The University of Mississippi, a landmark in the fight over racial segregation, is increasingly becoming a cultural melting pot.  This fact is very evident in the colleges Greek system, where none of the all-white fraternities or sororities have accepted a black student for decades.

Fraternities and sororities that are historically and traditionally comprised of African American students participate in recruitment through the Interfraternity Council (IFC), and Caucasian students participate in recruitment through The National Panhellenic Council (NPC), conventionally.

The University of Mississippi has no principles on black males being allowed to rush through the National Panhellenic Council, although, it is generally considered against the norm.  However, the Sigma Chi Fraternity accepted their first black member, sophomore Deandre O’Neal, into their organization in 2010.

“Rush was not awkward at all,” Deandre said.  “I never felt different and to be honest I never even thought twice about it.  I signed up, went through the process, and completed it.”

O’Neal admitted that rush was a very hard time for him because he had a lot of friends who were rushing through IFC.  He felt as if they did not understand where he was coming from and that they didn’t really care.

“Being a member of a black sorority or fraternity is a pride thing,” O’Neal explained.  “It means a lot to our community and people look at you differently if you aren’t a member.  But I remember coming to the conclusion that I had to do what was in my heart and my life will forever be changed by Sigma Chi.”

“ I feel as if people have their own prerogatives and some things work for them and some things don’t,” O’Neal said.  “Hopefully in the future, recruitment will be more integrated, but maybe it wont.”

Toran Dean is a junior at Ole Miss and works for Ole Miss Outdoors.  She is African American and non-Greek; however, she says that the majority of her friends are white and in a sorority.

Dean considered going through recruitment through NPC but decided against it.  “I have been embraced so much by the IFC system and the Panhellenic system,” Dean said.  “I think they are so inclusive to people of different nationalities, different races, and different beliefs.”

Dean explained her opinion about the Ole Miss Greek system as one being built on a ‘foundation of service’ to both the university and surrounding communities and she believes that every student, no matter who they are, should get an equal chance at being a part of that.

“I think it’s so great to have a system that is trying their best to put diversity on the forefront of what their fraternity or sorority stands for,” Dean explained.

Less than one percent of the IFC and NPC are integrated, however, the University is beginning to see a change with this issue.  More and more students are showing interest in both systems, not only separately, but also as a whole.  Because of the diversity changes sororities and fraternities on campus are making, student’s going through recruitment have the opportunity to look more at the mission of these organizations as opposed to race or color.

Hyperlink:http://www.olemiss.edu/orgs/panhellenic/Ole_Miss_Panhellenic_Council/Welcome.html

Video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7Ao7tB6DHU&feature=player_embedded

Full Interviews:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbQCa8qSzEI&feature=player_embedded

Diversity in The Classroom

Jamie Kline
Journalism 102 Section 4
5/9/11

Diversity in the Dorms

Erin Simpson As finals week on the Ole Miss campus approaches, freshman students and university employees are preparing for the move out of Martin Hall. Looking back on the 2010-2011 school year, Cortney Fritz and Mrs.Jeraldine Harris-Rice have both enjoyed the diversity that dorm life has provided. Cortney Fritz, a freshman resident of the sixth floor of Martin Hall, said that dorm life has widened her perspective on diversity. “When I moved into the dorm, I have to admit it was a little bit intimidating. To go from being an only child, to living on a floor with 49 other girls, it was a transition. But I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Living here has opened my eyes as far as diversity goes. I’ve met people from different backgrounds, races, and walks of life, and I think that’s what the college experience is about,” Fritz said. Mrs.Jeraldine Harris-Rice, one of the two African-American custodians of the sixth floor of Martin, said she has a similar take on diversity at the dorms. “I think when you get thrown together with fifty girls, from all over the place and from all different backgrounds, you’re forced to widen your perspective of people. You’re forced to become more patient, and hopefully, compassionate towards girls you barely know. I think living here, my girls on this floor are doin’ that,” Harris-Rice remarked. To give an example of the “compassion” she was referring to, Mrs. Harris-Rice went on to say that the residents of the sixth floor had pooled together money from each girl and presented her with a $50 Walmart gift card for Christmas. “This is one of the sweetest groups I’ve ever seen. They don’t know how much that meant to me. It was so unexpected and so kind,” Harris-Rice said. For more information on the dorms of the Ole Miss, visit the university website or the hyperlink below.

Diversity In Males

At Ole Miss, there are a percentage of males that correspond with the status quo, but Mykki Newton and Kegan Coleman have different stories.

Mykki Newton, instructor of Journalism at Ole Miss, is a transsexual male. Newton was diagnosed with transsexualism in late 1992. She had much trouble with conforming to society’s standards and eventually developed a drinking problem.

“I began to demonstrate destructive behavior because I hated being what people thought I should be,” stated Newton.

Newton has anchored and reported for various news stations, and also has had a career with acting in the past. Though Newton has been criticized for his lifestyle, she has never blatantly been disrespected to her face while on campus.

“I think that most journalism students have a certain respect for me because they may have me as an instructor in the future,” chuckled Newton.

As well as Newton, Coleman has never experienced slander in his presence while at Ole Miss. Coleman, a sophomore at Ole Miss, is a minority and also a member of the St. Anthony chapter of Delta Psi fraternity.

“Once, my friend told me that someone labeled me as an Uncle Tom because I rushed, but I know that the fraternity has not molded me because I have held on to my ideals,” stated Coleman.

Delta Psi was taking a chance with allowing Coleman to become apart of the fraternity, because it is very unlikely for a minority to be allowed membership into an Interfraternity Council fraternity or sorority.

“The frat took a chance, but they honestly accepted me with open arms and humble hearts….IFC is something very different from the National-Panhellenic Council. The rush process was amazing for me as a minority” said Coleman.

Both Newton and Coleman are proud of their decisions to experience these diverse ways of life, and do not regret them at all.

video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-44bwdql6g
hyperlink:http://zing.olemiss.edu/diversity-rocks-begins-april-25-at-ole-miss-j-school/

Diversity on the Tennis Team

For nearly twenty-five years, the Ole Miss tennis team has been primarily made up of players who are not American.

The Ole Miss tennis team currently has three Germans, two Swedes, a Norwegian, a South African, and an American.

“Tennis is a world wide sport, and in order to compete at the highest level you have to be able to get the best guys from other countries”, explained Swedish born assistant coach, Tobie Hanson.

Coach Billy Chadwick first started bringing in foreign players around 25 years ago, and has continued to do so since then.

The trend of having foreign players on teams is not just at Ole Miss; seventy-five percent of the top 125 players in the country are foreign.

However, Ole Miss has had several American standouts in the past decade, Devin Britton being the most recent.

The Mississippi born Britton won the NCAA individual singles title, becoming the first freshman ever to do so.

North Carolinian, Robbye Poole, who graduated in 2007, also earned All-American honors and helped lead the Rebels to a #3 year end ranking.

The Ole Miss teams seem to thrive with the diverse languages, cultures, and styles of play that each member brings to the table.

“We tease each other a lot,” said senior tennis star, Tucker Vorster. “But at the end of the day I love all these guys and we’re a very close team.”

Ole Miss shows no signs of changing its trend of recruiting foreign players.

The program recently landed Nik Scholtz, a South African player who will certainly be among the nation’s best players.

http://www.olemisssports.com/sports/m-tennis/ole-m-tennis-body.html

Diversity in the Greek Life - Rachel Hammons

At the University of Mississippi, approximately 30% of students belong to Greek organizations. Female students have the option of going through one of two recruitment processes: National Panhellenic Council (NPC- mostly Caucasian females) and National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC- mostly African American females).

Many individuals believe that the Ole Miss Greek life promotes segregation. The gigantic Greek houses that can be seen on campus are for the most part filled with white women. Some call these houses evidence of visible segregation. African American sororities are mostly off campus.

African American employees also reside in houses on Sorority Row, working jobs such as cleaning and cooking.

Betty Brown, an African American cook for the Chi Omega sorority, remarked that she has never felt like she is a minority within the house.

Brown said, “I had never felt discriminated against. These girls are my everything, and I appreciate everything they have done for over the years.”

The University of Mississippi has no regulations on whether black females should be allowed to rush NPC, although the practice is generally uncommon. Most African American women choose to rush NPHC, but this was not the case for Kimbrely Dandridge.

Kimbrely Dandridge, an African American sophomore journalism major from Como, Miss., decided to go against all odds when she made the decision to go through NPC recruitment this past fall. (99% of girls who are members of these sororities are white.) Dandridge is currently employed by Ole Miss as a Residential Assistant, and she is also a member of the NPC Greek sorority Phi Mu.

After a long summer of contemplation and encouragement from her Caucasian friends to go through recruitment, Dandridge made the decision to rush NPC in an effort to do something different.

Dandridge remarked that rush was the most stressful, intense week she has ever experienced. Many of her friends who initially encouraged her to go through the process ending up cutting her. When asked if she would do it all over again, she said that she wasn’t sure.

Dandridge’s decision to go through the primarily Caucasian rush was not overlooked by the black community. In fact, many of her friends criticized her for not going through NPHC.

Dandridge said, “People didn’t know why I wasn’t doing NPHC. Several NPHC members stopped talking to me. It was like a slap in the face to them when I didn’t do it. But I didn’t want to do the norm. I wanted to step outside of the rim.”

Dandridge has remarked that Ole Miss’s current Greek system is stuck in the old days.

Dandridge remarked, “It’s institutional segregation. Some houses will cut you just because you’re black. They don’t look at a person for who they are, they just see the fact that they’re black. That mentality is stuck in the old days. People don’t want to move forward.”

Dandridge is also not a fan of the segregated recruitment systems. She believes the two should be combined.

Dandridge remarked, “I want it to be where we don't have a black system and a white system. I want there to be a Greek system where it’s everybody together. I don’t feel like the Greek systems right now are promoting diversity.”

Dandridge has said that being the only black in her sorority has been very trying and that some people still do not accept her even within her own organization. However, Dandridge proceeds forward every day with a positive attitude.

Danridge commented, “Every day that I walk into the [Phi Mu] house, people begin to accept it a little more. Being a Phi Mu is not about color.”

Dandridge daily learns lessons from being the sole minority within her Greek organization.

Dandridge said, “I’ve learned to always have my guard up. You never know what people say behind your back. Never trust anybody. You don’t have any many friends as you think you do. Be who you are. The people who want to see you succeed will always be there for you.”

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For more information on Ole Miss recruitment, please visit: http://www.olemiss.edu/orgs/panhellenic/Ole_Miss_Panhellenic_Council/Welcome.html

VIDEO:

http://youtu.be/dnwyaKmlraA

Above: Betty Brown pauses cooking lunch for the Chi Omega girls to take a quick photo op.

Above: Sue Weakley rocks out for the 1st Annual Diversity Week at the University of Mississippi.

Diversity In The Classroom: Jamie Kline

Diversity In the Classroom

Promoting diversity is an important goal shared by many American colleges and universities. At the University of Mississippi the question has been raised whether our classrooms are truly diverse or not.

Much discussion about diversity focuses on standard forms of discrimination: race, ethnicity, social stature, gender, sexual orientation, disabilities, etc. Students come into university classrooms from different backgrounds, sets of experiences, cultural contexts and worldviews. Does the Ole Miss student population also reflect such diversity as well?

On October 1, 1962, James Meredith became the first black student at Ole Miss. His admittance was the kick-start to diversity at this institution. The statue and monument of Meredith’s achievement on campus serve as a constant reminder of this important milestone in recognizing the importance of diversity.

Everyone has a different definition of the word diversity. When student Kells Johnson was asked to define it he said, “Diversity means more than just black and white. You can be black, white, gay, straight, bisexual, disabled, introvert, extrovert. Diversity can be used in so many different ways you can’t really put a an exact label on it.”

On the Ole Miss website, you can find the University’s mission and goals from the office of the Chancellor. Under the Service section it states that the University “is committed to developing diverse campuses that recognize and promote the value of individual differences”.

While the University states its commitment, it may not be evenly diverse across campus. “Some class rooms are diverse, I really can’t speak for all of them, but the ones that I have been in have had a mixture of all kinds,” Johnson said, “Except for this journalism 102 class I’m in, I was the only black person in my class”.

According to information about Ole Miss’s student body on the College Board website, 76% of students are reported to be Caucasian. Leaving 24% left for minorities. With these statistics, it is clear that creating diverse classrooms is going to be difficult until statistics change.

Sophomore Cheyenne Smith is majoring in social work. “Because social work isn’t that popular of a major here, I have all my classes with a lot of the same people,” She said.

Even though Smith shares her classes with familiar faces, she believes that her classrooms are diverse. “We do have diverse people in the social work field, there are some gay guys and a lot of females, but we don’t really catch a lot of guys in our major,” Smith said.

Statistics may indicate that University of Mississippi’s campus still has racial diversity challenges. However, many teachers and students choose to appreciate the array of cultural differences that do sometimes exist in the classroom. One way this is recognized is by Diversity Week’s weeklong celebration of all diversity groups, whether through race, ethnic origin, disability or sexual orientation, and promoting anti-bullying.

Diversity creates a very rich environment because it provides many different perspectives. This ultimately enriches a person’s knowledge and experience. Promoting such diversity in the classroom not only leads to a collective awareness, but also reflects the authenticity of the real world. It is important for students and teachers to embrace each other’s differences to create a healthy and successful learning atmosphere for all.

Click Here For: Jamie’s Diversity Video Link

Jamie Kline