AS A FIRST year, I thought that the University's trademark racial tension was all my fault. Minorities are often accused of exacerbating race problems through self-segregation, and I believed it. If we would just integrate into the mainstream then things would be slap happy. In a one-woman attempt to right the balance of racial interactions, I tried to bond with my white sorority girl roommate. In pursuit of diversity, I went to Rugby Row, joined The Cavalier Daily as a news writer, went to Ballroom Dance Club and was extra nice to non-Asians everywhere I went. However, what drew me in for the long run were Chinese Christian Fellowship, Inkstone Asian Literary Magazine, and O'Tones Asian a cappella, among other Asian-affiliated CIOs. I couldn't help it -- those groups fit my interests the best, and their members understood me the most.
I won't apologize for having accumulated a set of almost completely Asian friends. I am entitled to befriend people of my own race just as much as people on Rugby Row are entitled to be with their fraternity brothers. At a university this large, one can't expect to have a meaningful college experience without developing close relationships with a smaller group of people. Yet somehow when a group of friends belongs to a racial minority, its members are labeled as self-segregating.
I spent time with non-Asians, but we just didn't have that much in common. Unlike them, I spoke Chinese with my parents, my music collection included primarily Taiwanese pop music and I ate Asian foods like dried seaweed and shrimp chips. I tried to build friendships with them, but nothing ever really clicked. In retrospect, I shouldn't have expected relationships with people of other races based exclusively on our racial differences. Friendships can't function without some sort of common ground.
I'm not saying that everyone should complacently stay with people who are like them. Open minds are key to racial harmony. But why should "diversity" come at the expense of true friendship? The point of increased diversity is to create a richer experience for students. Diversity for diversity's sake is meaningless.
Over the years, non-minorities have repeatedly decried cultural groups and programming, saying that they promote self-segregation. Lately in the opinion section we've read about Spring Fling, and its effectiveness or lack thereof. However, eliminating cultural programs is not the solution. I can see how non-minorities might think that progress would entail equal, colorblind treatment for everyone, but it is naïve to think that cultural differences will just disappear if we ignore them. Each person has their own background, and some things won't be understood by people of other races no matter how hard everyone tries. I speak from firsthand experience when I say that cultural organizations play an essential role for many students. Furthermore, it would be a shame to ignore the value that students' heritages contribute to the community.
Despite inexplicable differences, a socially conscientious response would be attempting to understand where others are coming from and showing respect for them. Controversies over offensive words or actions stem less from the deeds themselves than the insensitivity or flagrant disregard for others that they involve.
Race problems won't be solved by nominal diversity, and it is unreasonable to expect them to. As I prepare to graduate, my message to underclassmen is this: Pursue diversity not to be politically correct, but because it is a whole wealth of new cultures and opportunities that is worth exploring. You owe it to yourself.
P.S. Ads, you guys rock -- Especially Lorenzo and Alice. Josh, Peter, Erin, and Guillaume, you guys rock too!
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