Column: USU is full of diversity in its own ways
In light of the Diversity Fall Social two weekends ago, I am grateful that I attend a university that supports such notions. Believe it or not – like it or not – our campus is saturated with diversity.
I realize that the vast majority holds similar religious beliefs leading to predominant political views, cultural background, and sexual orientation. However, diversity encompasses far more than race, sex and religion. I have come to realize that many students on this campus come from families of varying socioeconomic status, some come from a background of abuse, others deal with alcoholism, suicide, depression, learning disabilities, obesity, etc.
As many of you have in the past, I attended the Fall Leadership Conference held the week before school. One of the many issues addressed was diversity and equality among students. Throughout the week I made a disturbing self-discovery. I harbor some deep-rooted prejudices.
Prejudice by definition is a bias for or against someone or something that fails to take true account of their characteristics. Somewhere along the road of my life I learned how people treat people. I learned that a poor man on the streets and a rich man with position and power do not receive the same kind of treatment. I learned that pretty girls are treated differently than ugly girls. How do I judge the level of respect a person deserves? Is it money, power, appearance? Referring back to the definition judgment should be passed strictly upon a person’s character and judgment upon character can only take place when you truly seek to know and understand someone.
I’ve noticed a reoccurring phenomenon in my own life that I will attempt to illuminate by personal experience. Shortly after being elected to office the ASUSU officers attend a retreat in Bear Lake. It is what you might call a “breaking the ice” experience. My initial assumption was that I was out of my league, these people ran great campaigns and were obviously individuals of great capacity and talent, I was not going to fit in. As the retreat was underway and we got to know each other I began to find similarities between us, some of them struggle with the same things I do.
In the following weeks and throughout the summer I have found that there is not one officer that I do not relate to in one way or another. We now foster meaningful friendships. It was not until recently that I found out that some of the other officers felt the same way I did before attending the retreat. I seem to fear what I do not know or understand.
My point is not to stifle individualism. Our differences, our opinions and beliefs make up who we are. I thoroughly enjoy the debates between the College Republicans and College Democrats. I love seeing multicultural organizations represent themselves with pride.
Friedrich Hayek, one of the 20th century’s leading capitalist economists and a winner of the Nobel Prize, stated, “There is all the difference in the world between treating people equally and attempting to make them equal.” This article is merely a feeble attempt to encourage each of you to look inward for ways to reach outward.
Brett Thomas is the ASUSU Extension vice president. Comments can be sent to bdthomas@cc.usu.edu.