Diversity at Vandy
Diversity and difference exist in many forms at Vanderbilt. What are the primary forms you have noticed and what have you specifically done to help persons/groups representing this diversity come to a greater understanding of one another?
Numbers are NOT diversity. The percentage of minority students does not define diversity. J. K. Rowling, a famous author for a teenage adolescent story, wrote: “It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.” It is indeed what we choose to do with our abilities, characteristics, and opportunities that contribute to Vanderbilt’s diversity.
There are many forms of diversity: ethnic, religious, socioeconomic, sexual orientation… I commend and respect the leaders of organizations, which seek to promote awareness. However, my contribution to our campus diverges from the stereotypical path and aligns with my own philosophy of diversity that Rowling seems to grasp firmly.
My philosophy hinges on one key characteristic: courage, courage for welcoming the unfamiliar. The main impediment to diversity is fear of the unknown. The leaders of the aforementioned organizations use their courage to spread awareness. I use mine to break down walls in other ways.
As a Christian, female Asian, I’ve broken down walls in many of the mainstream groups on campus. For instance, when we discussed stereotypes, my faculty VUceptor frankly stated his pleasant surprise that I was not the stereotypical shy, academically obsessed Asian character. My VUceptees murmured in agreement. As a first-year resident adviser, I’ve broken the stereotype of not being Greek; many had assumed that I was simply because I had a large social circle and energetic persona. As a teacher assistant, I broke the image of the cold, boring academic and formed real relationships with students in my office hours.
I recall my Senatorial election: trying to sway the votes of 6000+ students. This was the first time in my life since I was six (when kids called me “Asian girl”) that I realized I was Asian, female, non-Greek, Christian, and Southern. Questions of my character, my choices, my past actions and future vision all hit me fiercely. As I paraded to different organizations, my heart grew afraid when I stood out as a minority. My differences made me question my abilities. When I beat the odds (moving up two spots from the primaries), I conquered this fear. As a Senator, I stood my ground, even changing (unnamed) administrators’ perceptions of minority students and their “place” on campus.
Subtle discrimination does occur for the unfamiliar; people look at you in a slightly different way or they’ll act on their expectations of your identity. I have chosen to fight with the courage to establish myself as the individual I imagine myself by participating in the activities I am passionate about (even if it is not my “place”).
As the Media Chair for MOSAIC (multicultural undergraduate recruitment weekend), I seek to bring more brave and spirited students onto campus. I aid in the recruitment of individuals, who are not afraid to be different and are willing to uphold their identity against the current that tells them to conform and hide in their similar social groups and acquiescently take their place.
By breaking the stereotypes, I have learned (through conversations) that I inspired others to do the same. This is my diverse footprint on campus.