Promotion of Diversity at Indiana State University: A Multicultural Experience - Essay Example

In the same go, we decided to fight the evils of gender stereotypes, hatred towards homosexuals, racial prejudice, etc. The universities have been sincere in implementing measures to encourage multiculturalism in their colleges and campuses. But there are certain concerns: Whether American universities are encouraging diversity or doing nothing except issuing policy statements? However, Indiana State University, also known as ISU, has been very sincere in implementing diversity not only with the help of policy statements and plans but also by actually putting them into implementation and practice. The university has adopted a strategic approach to encourage the admission of students from various communities and nationalities.

ISU’s Stance on Diversity ISU is not one of those institutions that believe in tall talking about diversity but avoid implementing it in a practical sense. This is not only due to the sincere attitude of the ISU authorities but also due to the practicability of its policies and practices, which extensively correlate diversity and holistic education.

According to the ISU website, diversity can be comprehended as the range of human differences that include ethnicity, gender identity, racial identity, expression, socio-economic status, age, national origin, physical abilities and disabilities, sexual orientation, spiritual beliefs, etc. A careful introspection of diversity can “both spotlight the uniqueness of our identities and create opportunities for interaction, dialogue, and analysis that build community.” (Indiana State University) This sort of clear perception of the very concept of diversity gives ISU an advantage of better theoretical understanding, which is subsequently reflected in its socio-educational and cultural activities.

ISU has set up the ISU Office of Diversity, which works in juxtaposition with the President's Council on Diversity and promotes the policies, programs, and practices, which model impartiality and show the way to the excellence of multicultural environment and education. Hence, the students get an opportunity to know about different cultures, practices, perceptions, and nationalities, which helps them to mature and work better in the age of globalization. Diversity is thus not merely an ethical consideration.

At ISU, it is a part of education. Hence the University invites “everyone in the ISU community and on the ISU campus to explore and embrace learning about diversity as a goal” (Indiana State University). A prime strategy of the university is to focus on the Diversity Crisis Model. Educational expert Damon A. Williams has remarked, “Too many diversity-planning efforts follow a reactive pattern that emerges when the campus is disrupted by a diversity crisis. Nationally publicized examples of such crises include controversial remarks by the president of Harvard University in 2003 regarding the ability of female faculty to perform in the sciences and the Duke University lacrosse team incident in 2006.