Coexisting Inside the Bubble

Erin Fischesser & Erin BowenFor Jenny Jacob, a Miami University senior and president of the Association of Jewish Students, experiencing prejudice is nothing new."I have faced anti-Semitism my entire life," Jacob said, as she recalled swastikas spray-painted on her high school soccer field.While enrolled in English 111, Jacob said a classmate, whom she considered to be a friend, told her she would go to Hell because of her Jewish faith. When other students in the class shared similar viewpoints, Jacob took action, asking her professor if she could make a presentation to clear up the misconceptions about her faith."I brought in objects used to make Kiddush on Shabbat and gave the class a mini-lesson on Judaism using these tools," Jacob said. "I have learned to embrace my heritage and treat it as an educational tool."Jacob is not alone in her desire to bring understanding and tolerance to Miami's campus. For Jacob and other students who are in a minority group-based on race, religion or sexuality-one of the greatest challenges is not only to exist, but to coexist.Meeting at the crossroadsAccording to sophomore Marissa Sims, activism/outreach chair for Spectrum, Miami's Queer-Straight Alliance, tolerance is tragically missing from both the campus and the city of Oxford."Miami's campus has yet to have a day where every minority student felt as though they were treated equal to their white Christian peers," Sims said. "There is definitely a very hostile environment at Miami towards anything 'gay.' Speaking as a straight ally, I have witnessed many events of discrimination towards not only our organization but our members." Sophomore psychology major Kate Tonnies shared a different perspective."I know that discrimination occurs, but I think the majority of students are open-minded when it comes to learning about others with differences," Tonnies said. "College is the perfect time to meet and interact with people different from you and situations different that those you have experienced."While Jacob and Sims have personally experienced acts of prejudice, first-year Anna Hang shared a more positive perspective on Miami's acceptance of diversity. As an Asian American, Hang said she had not personally experienced any racist actions at Miami, but mentioned that she felt Asians are not as discriminated against as other ethnic groups.First-year Larpamon Chatphaisal, who has lived in the Untied States for six years since leaving Thailand, echoed Hang's thoughts. "I have been in the United States for so long that I don't even notice a lot of (racist actions)," Chatphaisal said.Despite Hang and Chatphaisal's experiences, Miami traditionally ranks poorly in The Princeton Review's annual rankings related to on-campus diversity. According to the 2008 Princeton Review rankings, Miami is among the top 20 universities in the nation with a homogenous student population. Tonnies said that despite this ranking, Miami's administration is making steps to improve the state of diversity at the school."While the ranking doesn't necessarily surprise me, I know that it is hard for a campus like Miami to make drastic changes overnight," Tonnies said. "Stereotypes die hard, but the administration is trying."Solving this problem Jacob said, is clearly daunting but potentially realistic."You can not force anyone to mingle with another person," Jacob said. "By having diverse organizations on campus, by having a special organization to bring diverse groups together, such as the Diversity Affairs Council, and by having programs with diverse co-sponsors, Miami can create an experience for students to involve themselves with individuals who are different."James Constantine Hanges, associate professor of comparative religion, said that one thing to consider is that students cannot receive only a superficial exposure to the differences of others, especially in promoting religious tolerance."For academic education on the subject of religion to be effective it must simultaneously create the environment where students encounter the 'other' in themselves, in their own tradition," Hanges said. "The kind of knowledge and education that fosters tolerance begins with self-knowledge, with serious and critical reflection."Looking inJuanita Tate, director of the Office of Diversity Affairs, admitted that prejudice exists at Miami, yet an individual's experience with intolerance can vary. "There are people who have experienced it in different ways," Tate said.According to Tate, it is difficult to say how Miami compares to other schools in racism and prejudice. Tate explained that Miami faces more challenges in part because of the large white population.According to the Miami University Diversity Report, in fall 2007, only 9.9 percent of the class of 2011, 9.1 percent of undergraduates and 9.2 percent of graduate students are ethnically diverse. The amount of diverse undergraduate students has continued to increase since 2003, but still remains below the comparable figure of 17 percent for the state of Ohio.Additionally, 26 percent of the class of 2011 are first-generation college students, low-income, and/or ethnically diverse. According to Ann Fuehrer, associate professor of psychology and women's studies, the make-up of Miami's student body may discourage students with differences to integrate within the student body."Miami, being in many ways a very conservative place-socially, politically, economically-quite homogeneous tends to discourage differences and many community members fear, reject, avoid, and denigrate those whom they perceive as different," Fuehrer said.Regarding students with gender and sexuality differences, Fuehrer said gaining acceptance is especially difficult."I believe that students who challenge gender norms are not well understood by others at Miami," Fuehrer said. "That goes for all who challenge gender norms-men who pursue more traditionally feminine majors, such as education; women who pursue more traditionally masculine majors such as accounting; both men and women who reject heterosexuality; gay men; lesbians; asexual people; bisexual or queer people, (as well as) transgender people who may have quite complex gender identities."Peter Williams, a professor of comparative religion and American studies, said Miami fares poorly when it comes to student knowledge concerning religious differences."The level of religious literacy at Miami is not nearly as high as it should be," Williams said. "Miami is certainly not exceptional (in that category) among American colleges and universities."Hanges agreed with Williams."Most students, in fact, most Americans know very little about religion other than their own, and much of what they think they know about other religions is constructed of inaccurate stereotypes," Hanges said. "At least as problematic is the fact that students arriving at Miami, especially students who belong to the major denominations and movements of American Christianity, do not know very much about their own faith."While education may appear to be the best method to promote tolerance, Cyril Daddieh, professor and program director for Black World Studies, said the quality of education is key."There is such a thing as 'miseducation,'" Daddieh said. "In other words, if the education students receive reinforces stereotypes and misinformation, then it is not helpful in promoting dialogue, understanding or empathy.Addressing the issueWith an initiative to combat Miami's lack of diversity, Tate said the current administration is making a strong effort to encourage minority relations on campus. As part of the Office of Diversity Affairs, Tate and her colleagues work to bring programs, activities and other events to highlight and educate students about diversity expressed through abilities, age