'U' community looks to diversity's future

Amid ongoing reflection about diversity issues and the recent filing of two lawsuits challenging the University's use of affirmative action, students, faculty and administrators look toward the future with uncertainty.

"I think that the lawsuit has been disturbing to a lot of students on campus, and especially to students of color," said Vice President for Student Affairs Maureen Hartford, who said minority students may feel like their capabilities are being questioned. Hartford added that most people on campus are not questioning the merit of minority students.

From different corners of campus come varying suggestions on how students can sort through their reactions and proceed confidently into the future.

Hartford said students can combat some of the concerns surrounding the lawsuits by voicing opinions about their hopes for the campus atmosphere.

PAUL TALANIAN/Daily LSA senior James Valbrun moderates a discussion class on diversity. He is one of the facilitators of the class, which debates various multi-cultural issues.

"I think we need to have more students speak up about the positive elements that (diversity) brings to this campus," Hartford said.

Law first-year student Winnie Kao said that although she does not favor the lawsuits and what they attempt to do, they actually may promote open dialogue about important issues, which currently surface only periodically.

"It may heighten tension, but I think it's good in some ways because the debate is out in the open and people are talking about the issues and hopefully learning from them," said Kao, a member of the Asian Pacific American Law Students Association. "People have been thinking about them, but now it's more out in the open."

Law first-year student Ihan Kim, also an APALSA member, said that during the potentially lengthy lawsuit, there will be more opportunity to educate the community about the issues. Students will be prompted to process and internalize information instead of encountering a barrage of views, Kim said.

"It will keep a substantial debate going, which, in some ways, may be better than flashes in the pan," Kim said.

Aside from discussing the lawsuit, many students continue to interact in other ways with people from different backgrounds and experiences.

LSA senior Jeff Walker, an Intergroup Dialogue facilitator, said the program is one way for students to explore relations between groups of people who have a characteristic that distinguishes them, such as gender, race or sexual orientation. The program does not claim to solve students' problems, but instead tries to open their minds.

"The program is not based on the idea that we're all happy and we're going to get along, because that's not going to happen," Walker said. "But it's based on different people coming together and trying to understand where other people are coming from."

RC first-year student Sarah Chopp, who participated in one of this semester's Intergroup Dialogue classes, said the small discussions are one campus resource where students can explore diversity issues.

"People walk out feeling very fulfilled," Chopp said. "You're really breaking down barriers. I think it's a good way to open your mind."

Chopp, who was recently elected to an LSA seat on the Michigan Student Assembly, said she always has considered herself a liberal, but a passive liberal.

"Now I realize that just believing in social justices and personal liberties isn't enough," Chopp said.

Walker said the class may allow students to view their surroundings in a different way than before they entered the class.

"I just think that it's important for people to work toward equality, and as you look on campus or around the world, (see that) we don't live in an egalitarian society," Walker said. "I think it gives students a good first step.

"I don't think the program, as good as it is, is going to solve problems for everybody."

In addition to joining organizations, voicing their opinions or taking classes that provide intimate group discussions, some members of the University community said the solution to racial tensions may be even more fundamental.

Associate Kinesiology Prof. Bernard Maloy, who teaches a class called Legal Aspects of Sports, said he has noticed changes in the classroom since he began teaching.

"There's much more tolerance than there was when I came here 12 years ago," Maloy said.

Maloy attributes this to respect and understanding among students. Combining students of different backgrounds - not just race - can help them better understand one another and be more productive, he said.

Some students, however, don't necessarily see a need for more interaction between different students on campus.

Business graduate student Joe Buchwitz said race relations on campus are not as big a concern as they are in other areas - namely Detroit.

"I guess I really don't see a problem," Buchwitz said. "It's not like this is a huge area of segregation."

Buchwitz also said segregation of students is based more on the individual interests of students, including their musical tastes.

"Regardless of race, you're going to hang out with people more like you," Buchwitz said. "Segregation is kind of automatic. Diversity suffers because of that."

Buchwitz said that if the plaintiffs succeed in the anti-affirmative action lawsuits, admissions personnel will be more likely to accept students with more homogenous backgrounds and academic records.

"It would definitely not hurt the academic education, but it may hurt education in general," Buchwitz said.

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