Much has changed, but much has stayed the same since African American students began attending Miami University toward the end of its first century.
Despite the large amount of attention paid to diversity in recent years, the administration as a whole seems to have, at best, a shaky understanding of what it feels like to be a minority at this public university.
Having an office dedicated to diversity is a good first step, but doesn't make things "alright" in the eyes of the students who wish to have a diverse education, experience and to attend diverse programs.
While Miami clearly doesn't mean to discourage minority groups from attending, it is evident that it is not comfortable to be an African American student here. The usual "J.Crew U" stereotype persists because Miami students all seem to flock toward the same style and mentality.
Miami's student body has a distinctive social, economic and cultural identity.
This can happen for many reasons related to students' backgrounds: their family's income, the region they are from, or the type of community (urban suburban, rural) they are from.
Despite admirable programs such as the Miami Access Initiative, Miami tends to attract students from a relatively specific range of society: affluent, suburban and white.
Changing recruiting practices is the only way Miami can get a more diverse student body and thus make this a more comfortable place to be of a minority background.
Paradoxically, it will be difficult to recruit minority students while Miami remains an uncomfortable place for them.
As a result, we recognize that changes in this area will take place in small increments.
Miami admissions recruiters, as well as students, should ask themselves, "Compared to other universities, how is Miami not addressing this issue? How can we fix this?"
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Meanwhile, changing the environment at Miami all begins with student choices. It is not enough to not overtly discriminate. The Greek community in particular seems, at worst, averse or, at best, apathetic to diversity.
While Greeks are by no means solely to blame for Miami's "unwelcome" mat for minority students, the Greek community would be an excellent place to drive change.
It goes without saying that the status of minorities on campus has vastly improved in the past century. However, it is not said often enough that there is still room for improvement.
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