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/
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