As a black member of one of the largest freshman classes Syracuse University has received in recent years, Stephanie King said she is excited about the large diversity of the class, yet has her reservations.

‘I come from the city, so it doesn’t really feel diverse to me,’ she said. ‘I’m happy (this class is) more diverse, but I can’t really relate to it.’

For other members of the class of 2009 who come from diverse backgrounds and have not yet experienced life in a diverse community, this may be a welcome opportunity, according to Susan Donovan, dean of admissions at SU.

‘One of our greatest accomplishments this year is the dramatic increase in students of color in the first-year class,’ Donovan said in an e-mail. ‘Diversity has always been a priority, so this year’s success has to be attributed to a cumulative effect from many different initiatives.’

One of those initiatives starts at freshman orientation, said Paul Buckley, associate director of the Office of Multi-Cultural Affairs.

‘We have an exciting orientation program for the entire freshman class that I think allows every new student to learn where we are and where we are headed as an institution,’ he said. ‘Multi-Cultural Affairs is becoming an increasingly active office with programming and opportunities for students to think about where they are situated in a diverse, multi-cultural society.’

Some of these programs include the celebration of Heritage Month and dialogue circles on race, Buckley said.

The large diversity of the class comes from the size of the class in general, Donovan said. Because of the unexpected increase of accepted students choosing to attend SU in all colleges of the university, admissions recorded a larger increase in students from diverse backgrounds.

Buckley explained that diversity does not simply focus on race.

‘Diversity, as opposed to multiculturalism, really expands into issues of sexuality and internationalism,’ he said. ‘I think, at an academic level and co-curricular level, the university is providing many different angles by which all students can engage in this issue of multiculturalism and diversity.’

However, a diverse community is not something new to SU, Buckley said.

‘This is a more diverse class than perhaps last year, so we’re very excited about that, but this is not a new focus on diversity, that is to say that the institution has always been interesting in improving its diversity, and we are very proud of what is happening this year,’ he said. ‘It makes for a more dynamic college experience for everybody.’

Donovan agreed by saying she felt students of color-new and returning-have found a more welcoming environment this year as opposed to past years, and these students have proved helpful in fostering diversity in new freshman classes.

In regard to housing, which Donovan said is chosen randomly for all new students except for among those who request to take part in a learning community, the popularity of the ‘very diverse’ Multicultural Learning Community over the past year has increased and the community itself has expanded.

Donovan said she believes the effects of the diverse class on the SU community will be ‘very powerful,’ but diversity among students is not enough. The faculty, staff and administration of the university must be diversified as well.

‘We’re working very hard on that and making great strides every year,’ Donovan said in an e-mail. ‘It opens our minds to being ‘intellectual explorers,’ breaking down barriers and letting ourselves understand and appreciate different perspectives.’

Buckley agreed students will react positively to the increased diversity in the SU community.

‘We are very excited when students demonstrate some interest in exploring difference on any level,’ he said. ‘I’m very excited about this year.’

Published on August 28, 2005 at 12:00 pm