In addition to presenting facts about the programs, groups and facilities of the existing BCC, the Awareness Week also will include information about the freestanding building now under construction on South Road. The building is the result of a long-term fund-raising campaign, culminating in the chancellor's decision to use part of the largest single alumni donation in UNC history to fund construction.
That decision is a perfect example of the University's commitment to diversity. But while the intent of that commitment is undeniably good, its implementation is sometimes shaky.
For instance, the University requires that students fulfill a cultural diversity perspective for graduation. The requirement clearly illustrates the administration's desire to ensure all students take away a greater appreciation of other cultures along with their degree.
But in practice, a kid who spent his whole life in rural North Carolina can take a class on life in rural North Carolina and satisfy that perspective. A black student can satisfy it with African and Afro-American Studies 40. How diverse is that, really?
And the very examples I just used highlight a larger problem. When UNC talks about "diversity," all too often what is really being discussed is "a good mix of black and white." Sometimes someone will remember something about Muslims or Hispanics -- whereas a truly diverse group of people ought to include a mix of not only races, but also of ages, genders, political ideologies, nationalities, sexual orientations, religions, areas of study, economic backgrounds, tastes in music and more.
But attempting to create a truly diverse experience for students poses two main problems.
First, there's really not a whole lot the University administration can do to encourage contact among people who differ in all those ways. The admissions office already does a fairly decent job of admitting a truly diverse crowd -- that's what being "the University of the people" is all about. This year's huge freshman class is the most varied in University history. Now that they're all on campus, it's up to the students themselves to interact.
The good news is that in most cases, they will: with people living on their hall, taking their classes, joining their clubs.
In fact, most students should already be well on their way to embracing diversity by the time they first arrive on campus.
And as for those students who refuse to accept diversity socially, how likely is it that anyone can force them to do so with programs like the perspective requirement? Unlikely, if you ask me.
The second problem with a commitment to teaching students about diversity is that it would be close to impossible to show every UNC student the entire spectrum of human diversity, simply because it's such a huge range. The number of perspectives, Such-and-such Cultural Centers, programs and lectures would capsize the whole University.
All that being said, I would still urge you to check out the BCC Awareness Week events. Because despite my practical objections, acknowledgement and acceptance of diversity is still an important lesson.
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Whether you personally are black or not, take some time to learn about that particular segment of our society. Understanding other races, cultures and so on makes us more compassionate, better able to fit in in a diverse workplace after we graduate, more accepting of other cultures when we encounter them, more ready to appreciate the best things that culture has to offer.
Plus, there's free food. That alone should be enough to get you out of bed.
Columnist Geoff Wessel can be reached at vroomsplat@hotmail.com.
