To the majority, from one of your own,

At first glance, I might not seem to be the most obvious advocate for diversity and social justice on this campus. I am a white, Midwestern sorority girl from an upper-middle-class suburb, and I have endured virtually no oppression from a society in which I am very privileged. It would appear that diversity and inclusion should mean very little to me, and I would imagine that for those of you who are from a similar background, it is not a topic you find interesting or relevant. I am extremely lucky to call myself a delegate on SGA’s Diversity Leadership Cabinet, and as a result, I am exposed to many issues regarding prejudice, stereotypes and bias incidents that occur on our campus. Perhaps this has given me a concentrated view of the problems going on here at SLU. I have seen first-hand the issues that this campus faces, and I am entreating you, my peers within the majority, to take action and mend the gap.

First off, I would like to state that I do not entertain the possibility that there could be any excuse for why the white majority on this campus has not been proactively trying to make a difference for the minorities. As Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity.” In essence, Reverend King calls for us to look beyond the problems within our own lives and communities and address the greater issues that burden society as a whole. As the majority, we should be part of the solution for eliminating stereotypes and prejudices on this campus—not perpetuating the problem. According to Saint Louis University’s Fact Book (2012), for every 10 white students here at SLU, there is one African-American student, one Asian student, one international student, and half of a Hispanic student (p. 22). Clearly, there exists a massive gap in representation between minorities and the majority white masses at this university.

Caucasians make up more than 70% of the undergraduate student body at SLU. So because we are the group that is most widely represented, we have the most potential for influencing policies that could invoke change; all we need are the knowledge and tools to do so. However, the difficult thing about raising awareness to the importance of diversity is that the battle is a two-front war. I’ve found that students and administrators are not only uneducated, but also apathetic towards issues of diversity. And so the question becomes, why is diversity relevant? Why do we need a colorful student body and staff? What is the importance of it all?

A diverse education is a living and breathing education. When you learn with people who are just like yourself, you are engaging in a monologue. Your ideas don’t differ; you rarely debate or argue; it’s pathetically one-dimensional and unexciting. However, an academic environment with a healthy dose of diversity enriches and enhances the university experience. We learn lessons from our professors inside the classrooms, but we also learn about new cultures, perspectives, and beliefs when we enter into a dialogue with people who are not like ourselves. It strengthens the community by teaching students how to actively participate in a complex, vibrant and pluralistic society, while judging people on the content of their character—not their backgrounds. It also strengthens us as individuals by promoting personal growth, empathy and effective communication. These are all tools that SLU students can take with them out into the real world.

And so, with so much to offer the students of this community, I can’t help but wonder why there exists so much animosity towards ideas of diversity inclusion. I suppose what surprises me most about the majority’s reaction towards discussion and questions surrounding diversity is that it is characteristically angry and defensive.

Perhaps it is naïve of me to assume that students at a Jesuit institution actually believe in serving others. As members of the majority, you are lucky enough to have a voice. Use it. Otherwise, by saying nothing, by doing nothing, by choosing to remain ignorant, you are directly contributing to the problems on this campus. When you possess an advantage that allows you to make a difference for others, it is then your responsibility to make that difference. These issues don’t belong to one group—they belong to us all.

I challenge anyone who dismisses the discussion about diversity on this campus as “radical” to think about what I, a member of the majority myself, am asking you to do. I don’t believe that urging you to think before you speak, to ask thoughtful questions, and to be open to discussion about including others is radical by any means. In fact, there are already resources in place around this campus that can help you become a part of the change. Read the newspaper. Attend dialogues and meetings hosted by DLC and other Chartered Student Organizationss. Pull aside a DLC senator or delegate and ask them questions or for assistance—that’s what they’re there for. Whatever you do, be a conscious member of this campus community. The change that needs to occur is just within our reach, and all we need is for the majority to reach out and grab it.