2008 Woodie Awards
Editor Speaks Out: QU can afford to be diverse
Jason Braff
Issue date: 3/26/08 Section: Opinion
There is a problem at Quinnipiac University. Solving a problem is not an easy thing to do, but in certain instances it is very possible to either solve it or at least alleviate it.
Many people are in agreement, including President John Lahey (see Sept. 12, 2007 edition of The Chronicle), that there is a lack of diversity at Quinnipiac. According to Merriam Webster's English Dictionary "diverse" is defined as: 1) differing from one another, and 2) composed of distinct or unlike elements or qualities.
Out of the 13 private four-year colleges in Connecticut, Quinnipiac has the lowest overall percentage of the three major minorities on campus, according to the Princeton Review. Four out of every 100 students identify as Hispanic, three out of every 100 students identify as African American and two out of every 100 students identify as Asian, adding up to an underwhelming 9% of the campus. Furthermore, there is an assumption (or fact) that Quinnipiac has a student body that is very disinterested in politics; Quinnipiac ranked No. 2 out of 366 colleges by Princeton Review on their 2008 edition of the "Election? What Election?" list.
As a student and a journalist on this campus I have often found myself wondering why our campus lacks diversity. Does the university not have enough money for more financial aid to give to prospective students who don't have a wealthy financial background? After all, Quinnipiac ranks as 16th on Princeton Review's 2008 "Students Dissatisfied with Financial Aid" list. Or maybe that is not the reason. Whatever the reason is, it is not acceptable.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, by 2010 the United States will be made up of 65.1% White Americans, 15.5% Hispanic Americans, 13.1% African Americans, 4.6% Asian Americans, and 3% of other races. Attending college is not just meant to obtain a degree but to prepare its students to function in a society. By not having a realistic view of a community for four years, how will Quinnipiac students be prepared for the real world?
Many people are in agreement, including President John Lahey (see Sept. 12, 2007 edition of The Chronicle), that there is a lack of diversity at Quinnipiac. According to Merriam Webster's English Dictionary "diverse" is defined as: 1) differing from one another, and 2) composed of distinct or unlike elements or qualities.
Out of the 13 private four-year colleges in Connecticut, Quinnipiac has the lowest overall percentage of the three major minorities on campus, according to the Princeton Review. Four out of every 100 students identify as Hispanic, three out of every 100 students identify as African American and two out of every 100 students identify as Asian, adding up to an underwhelming 9% of the campus. Furthermore, there is an assumption (or fact) that Quinnipiac has a student body that is very disinterested in politics; Quinnipiac ranked No. 2 out of 366 colleges by Princeton Review on their 2008 edition of the "Election? What Election?" list.
As a student and a journalist on this campus I have often found myself wondering why our campus lacks diversity. Does the university not have enough money for more financial aid to give to prospective students who don't have a wealthy financial background? After all, Quinnipiac ranks as 16th on Princeton Review's 2008 "Students Dissatisfied with Financial Aid" list. Or maybe that is not the reason. Whatever the reason is, it is not acceptable.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, by 2010 the United States will be made up of 65.1% White Americans, 15.5% Hispanic Americans, 13.1% African Americans, 4.6% Asian Americans, and 3% of other races. Attending college is not just meant to obtain a degree but to prepare its students to function in a society. By not having a realistic view of a community for four years, how will Quinnipiac students be prepared for the real world?
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