University Park, the main campus of Penn State, educates over 41,000 students. African Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans, International and white are the ethnicities that create the student body at University Park. White students are about eighty percent of the student population therefore causing the other ethnicities to be minorities at Penn State University. With just these facts Penn State University fits the dictionary definition of diversity but I believe Penn State is diverse in more ways then just the ethnic background of the students. At Penn State every student is different from one another. Students have hair color here that ranges from blonde to red to green. Students have different techniques for studying and different styles of dressing. There are students that are Muslim, Christian, and Atheist. And, of course, there are some students that are Eagles’ fans and some students that are Steelers’ fans. All of these help create Penn State to become a diverse university.
Penn State also encourages diversity. The university offers a multitude of degrees and classes that allow students to follow their interests and become a unique personality. The dictionary may define diversity as “a point or respect in which things differ.” Penn State allows every student to differ from one another by offering all possibilities available through classes, sports and clubs. Penn State University is a diverse school.
Penn State University also believes that diversity is compelling part of a student’s education. President Spanier has said, “The Supreme Court has acknowledged that racial diversity is a compelling educational purpose . . . . The Supreme Court rulings in the Michigan cases reaffirm Penn State’s approach to inclusiveness.” Penn State agrees with the Supreme Court that diversity is a crucial part of an education. This is true. At college, education is more then just learning textbook material. It is also learning life experiences. At a diverse campus, students are introduced to many different cultures. Here at Penn State students are able to experience different religions, traditions, and customs. A Christian friend of mine attends a Jewish religious ceremony weekly with her friends. By doing this she has learned to accept other people’s beliefs and incorporate them into her life. Also, even with a largely diverse campus like Penn State, students are able to find people who they share common interests with and are able then to form friendships.
Although it appears that a diverse campus seems to have a positive influence on the students, it can also create conflicts. Some people have ignorance towards different cultures and customs. This ignorance often leads to fights, both physical and verbal. I have heard racial slurs yelled across campus and I have seen two men physically fighting over different football teams.
I believe that the dictionary definition of diversity is correct but I also believe there is more to it then that at Penn State. Diversity at Penn State is allowing each student to be unique and accept the difference of others.Althouse, Richard. “Fact Book”. University Budget Office. 18 Sept. 2005 <
http://www.budget.psu.edu/FactBook/StudentDynamic/StudentTableofContents2004.asp>∞.
Dictionary.com. Sept. 18 2005 <
http://www.dictionary.reference∞. com/>.
Oldest known version of this page was edited on 2005-09-18 21:55:07 by StarrySkies []
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Penn State University considers itself to be a diverse university. At Penn State much emphasis is placed on diversity. Penn State believes that diversity is a compelling part of education. According the dictionary diversity is “a point or respect in which things differ.” Is Penn State as diverse as it claims and is diversity a compelling part of an education? Also is a diverse atmosphere an healthy atmosphere?
University Park, the main campus of Penn State, educates over 41,000 students. African Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans, International and white are the ethnicities that create the student body at University Park. White students are about eighty percent of the student population therefore causing the other ethnicities to be minorities at Penn State University. With just these facts Penn State University fits the dictionary definition of diversity but I believe Penn State is diverse in more ways then just the ethnic background of the students. At Penn State every student is different from one another. Students have hair color here that ranges from blonde to red to green. Students have different techniques for studying and different styles of dressing. There are students that are Muslim, Christian, and Atheist. And, of course, there are some students that are Eagles’ fans and some students that are Steelers’ fans. All of these help create Penn State to become a diverse university.
Penn State also encourages diversity. The university offers a multitude of degrees and classes that allow students to follow their interests and become a unique personality. The dictionary may define diversity as “a point or respect in which things differ.” Penn State allows every student to differ from one another by offering all possibilities available through classes, sports and clubs. Penn State University is a diverse school.
Penn State University also believes that diversity is compelling part of a student’s education. President Spanier has said, “The Supreme Court has acknowledged that racial diversity is a compelling educational purpose . . . . The Supreme Court rulings in the Michigan cases reaffirm Penn State’s approach to inclusiveness.” Penn State agrees with the Supreme Court that diversity is a crucial part of an education. This is true. At college, education is more then just learning textbook material. It is also learning life experiences. At a diverse campus, students are introduced to many different cultures. Here at Penn State students are able to experience different religions, traditions, and customs. A Christian friend of mine attends a Jewish religious ceremony weekly with her friends. By doing this she has learned to accept other people’s beliefs and incorporate them into her life. Also, even with a largely diverse campus like Penn State, students are able to find people who they share common interests with and are able then to form friendships.
Although it appears that a diverse campus seems to have a positive influence on the students, it can also create conflicts. Some people have ignorance towards different cultures and customs. This ignorance often leads to fights, both physical and verbal. I have heard racial slurs yelled across campus and I have seen two men physically fighting over different football teams.
I believe that the dictionary definition of diversity is correct but I also believe there is more to it then that at Penn State. Diversity at Penn State is allowing each student to be unique and accept the difference of others.