North Carolina State University - Agromeck Yearbook (Raleigh, NC)

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ith a final draft of NC State ' s Diversity Initiative now approved, the university is continuing its exploration of how to best increase campus-wide appre- ciation of diversity. According to Hank Fiumara, director of univer- sity improvement programs, the focus now turns to how to beast achieve the four goals named in the initia- tive. These goals include increasing the presence and contributions of diverse groups, creating a working and learning environment where differences are welcomed and valued, incorporating diversity in a significant way into teaching, learning, and research, and making NCSU ' s commitment to diversity evident in all its operations. Fiumara said efforts are focused mainly on NCSU ' s climate and curriculum right now. In the area of climate, officials are exploring how to best increase appreciation of diversity. Currently officials are looking for an assessment instru- ment, such as a poll or survey, to ascertain the current understanding and appreciation for diversity on NCSU ' s campus. Changes in curriculum are being explored as well. We are looking at how, in the instructional cur- riculum, we can introduce a means to enhance success and opportunity in both what is taught and how it gets taught, Fiumara said. The officials ' interest lies in interactions that are taking place between faculty members and students, and between faculty members and other faculty mem- bers. Fiumara said increasing diversity awareness will be achieved through more than simply adding courses, like cultural or gender studies, to the curriculum. Awareness will also have to increase through enhanc- ing the ability to communicate, to transfer knowledge in a manner that would allow all students to better receive it. College is a learning experience, Fiumara point- ed out. Through a mix of both classroom education and life experience, Fiumara hopes appreciation of diversity will increase at NCSU. You may have some students that come in here that will have some set patterns of behavior, but I guar- antee that they are not the same person when they leave that they were four or five years earlier, said Fiumara. While Fiumara stressed the positive impact the diversity initiative would have on life at NCSU, Marcela Musgrave, president of the NCSU Latin American Students Association, seemed less .sure. These are lofty ideals, but I don ' t know if any- thing is going to come out of it, Musgrave said. Musgrave initially got involved because she felt the ' diversity planning ' was focusing too much on black-white relations. She wanted to make sure more came of it. Musgrave also said she did not feel it was ever clear where comments and concerns about the diversity initiative should be addressed when Fiumara and other officials asked for input back in October, 1997. Jacqueline Hills, president of the NCSU Asian Students Association, feels a diversity initiative is nec- essary and appropriate at a public university like NCSU. Hills believes the four goals seem fitting. She related the diversity initiative to the NCSU Asian Students Association. We welcome diversity because we know that we are all different, Hills said. Hills also thinks an increase in appreciation for diversity in the classroom is going to help students to better understand and relate to teachers and classes. Fiumara continues to emphasize the importance of members of the NCSU community becoming involved at an individual level. I would hope that people would take an active role individually because there are things students can do individually to break down barriers and increase appreciation, Fiumara said. Involvement is a matter of how active a students wants to be in his or her own growth. Fiumara said activities from volunteering for Habitat for Humanity to participating in the classroom can have aspects that will help increase awareness of diversity. Story by Lea Delicio Photo by Jamie Stevens m DIVERSITY PROLOGUE 9