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.”

***

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

Diversity in UM Band

Diversity can be seen in a variety of places on the University of Mississippi’s campus, especially in the University of Mississippi’s band.

Chris Presley is the marching band’s drum major, and although he is the drum major, he is not a music major. Band is something that includes many different types of people within it Presley said.

“Band allows me to get oustside of the box and meet people,” Presley said. “I think that’s one of the main things I like about band, just meeting people from all different walks of life.”

Presley also shared some of his memorable moments of being part of the band. Presley said his special memory with the band is his very first day of band camp.

“I remember going into band camp thinking, ‘I will not have time for this,’” Presley said. “But after that first day I was so excited, and I was looking forward to all the years to come.”

The assissant band director, Bill Dejournett, said band is a very diverse organization. It is a collection of students from many different academic departments.

Dejournett also shared his experience when deciding to make music his major. Dejournett said it was a very difficult decision for him to make.

“I knew I loved band, but at the same time I was a part of a lot of other things, like journalism, the debate team, and even drama,” Dejournett said. “I remember the day that I had to be a music major, and it wasn’t that I decided to be a music major, it was that I had to be a music major.”

The life of a band director is extremely hectic. It is the most difficult part of making music your career Dejournett said.

Dejournett said that although he is a band director now, he is still able to incorporate the other things he enjoys into his job.

“I haven’t totally given up journalism,” Dejournett said. “I’ve written two books, and I’ve done lots of publications in music journals.”

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOfk_NIyRkY

Hyperlink: http://www.olemiss.edu/depts/band/index.html

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BLENDED CULTURES: INTERRACIAL RELATIONSHIPS

Diversity is the concept of being accepting and respectful of differences in culture, race, religion, and opinion. Diversity is evident throughout daily affairs and interaction. Mixing race in the South has traditionally been controversial but challenging social norms is a test for people today.

Susan Ragsdale and Geoffrey Enchill are two entirely different individuals from different races, cultures, and religions. Both Ragsdale and Enchill, freshmen at the University of Mississippi, are brought together by their differences. They are involved in a romantic, interracial relationship.

Interracial relationships are becoming more common each and every day. However, these relationships are tagged as different and controversial due to racist tendencies and cultural and religious pride. When people date outside their own culture, race, or religion, they are subject to negative attention from their peers, friends, and even family.

“I don’t know why people take such offense that I am dating a Caucasian female,” Enchill said. “We have a lot in common and come from a similar family structure. We have been together for some time now, and I don’t see what all the fuss is about me, an African-American, dating a white female.”

One of the biggest struggles for the couple was facing fears of being ostracized by their friends and family because of their commitment to each other.

“I was really worried about telling others, especially my parents,” Ragsdale said. “I had never really approached the subject with them, and I was a little hesitant, but as soon as my mom met him and grew to like him, she understood why I am dating him.”

Enchill admitted to being nervous about the couple’s reception at Ole Miss at the beginning of their relationship. Enchill recounted one African American girl growling at him on campus because he was dating outside his race.

“I was dumbfounded because that was the first time I had witnessed a negative reaction to our relationship,” Enchill said. “I had no idea what to do about the situation but ignore it and keep walking.”

The University of Mississippi has made effort of informing students about the acceptance of different races, cultures, and religions. Journalism professor, Robin Street, is the head of the Diversity Rocks program at Ole Miss.

“Diversity Rocks is a weeklong program filed with lectures and information sessions on different aspects of diversity. From interracial relationships to honoring religious differences, the program is meant for the greater welfare of the university in recognizing and being tolerant of different people,” Street said.

“I have a student involved in an interracial relationship and it didn’t faze me in the least,” Street said. “I think it is up to the individual. Maybe, do you think, I should only be in relationships with people who have the same color hair as I do?”

With programs such as Diversity Rocks, people are being educated and informed on racial, cultural, and religious differences and learning to accept and respect them. Many speakers participated in the Diversity Rocks lectures, such as Rose Flenorl, Manager of Social Responsibility for FedEx, who discussed what she learned from being the first African American president of the Ole Miss Alumni Association. The week was filled with different activities, such as a photo and essay contest in which participants took photos and wrote essays about their personal definitions of diversity. There was a tent festival on the Farley Hall lawn where Chik-Fil-A sandwiches were served to students who had participated in different Diversity Rocks activities.

For more information on the Diversity Rocks program at the University of Mississippi, please visit http://www.diversityrocksonline.org/. Please visit http://www.lifescript.com/Life/Relationships/Love-101/Biracial_Relationships.aspx for more information on interracial relationships.

Diversity in the Workplace

An organization’s success and competitiveness is related to its ability to embrace diversity and recognize the benefits that come along. When businesses deal with diversity in the workplace they are able to notice increased adaptability and broader service ranges.

With a variety of viewpoints and more effective communication, companies can pull from the wide range of ideas to better accommodate the customer. Communication can hinder the workplace environment as well. Language barriers can pose issues with lack of teamwork and low morale.

Amenah al-Sherri, an Ole Miss student and waiter at Old Venice Pizza Co. said, “We have a deaf dishwasher at my work. She is the nicest, sweetest lady but all of the kitchen boys make fun of her. It has to be really hard for her to come to work every day and not be able to communicate with her co-workers.”

Simon Smith, a bartender at Taqueria El Milagro is the only Caucasian co-worker. The language difference poses a barrier between him and his co-workers. This language barrier brings about confusion for both Simon and his Spanish-speaking co-workers.

Smith said, “I don't have problems working with my co-workers. Even my Spanish isn't great but I can still try to communicate with them and that's the important thing.”

While many businesses are working to increase this, others are still lagging behind. Resistance to change is common, especially in the South, as some people are not ready for change. For others the diversity aspect isn’t noticed. Mario Booker, a former Ole Miss student and kitchen manager at Old Venice Pizza Co. does not think twice about the topic.

Booker said, “Everyone is cool that I work with. I don’t stop and think, ‘Oh this person is black or this person is white’ because we are all here doing our jobs and we’ve built friendships. You have to if you work with those people all the time.”

Attitudes toward diversity trickle down like a running faucet. It starts with one person’s opinion or attitude that affects someone else. This pattern if continued can greatly influence the environment in which one works. Management involvement and cooperation is conducive to creating a working environment.

For more information regarding diversity in the workplace please view this video.

[Meredith's video]