LSU students are diverse on paper, and Kaplan and Newsweek noticed it. With 24 percent enrolled minority students, LSU ranked as “Most Diverse” in the 2004 edition of “How to Get Into College.”
Inside the handbook is an article detailing the 12 “hottest schools.” It includes winners in twelve categories including “Best All-Around,” “Most Tech-Savvy,” and “Most Old School.” LSU tied for the honor with Los Angeles’ Occidental College.
“It’s clear that LSU has taken a number of steps that make us historically more diverse as a campus community,” Chancellor Emmert said. “It’s heartening to have Newsweek recognize those efforts.”
Emmert also said diversity was not as high as it could be, but it will be in the future.
“We’ve seen significant improvements in enrollment of African Americans coinciding with a rise in academic standards,” he said. “This makes clear our commitment to diversity and academic excellence.”
Katrice Albert, Office of Multicultural Affairs director, agreed with Emmert.
“I think we are very diverse, and I’m delighted to hear the news,” she said.
Albert also said OMA and the University are working hard on the issues of minority recruitment and retention.
“We go over and above to make sure academic excellence and leadership opportunities are offered to students of minorities.”
Albert also said LSU has a large international student population, which positively affects the educational environment.
“LSU is a large institution, and it can be overwhelming when you don’t see or interact with other students of color,” she said. “But at LSU, we have the resources to relieve this.”
Albert said she was surprised to see students of all races coming together to get involved in programs like student government.
“I particularly enjoy seeing students of different races in the Quad, studying or hanging out together,” she said.
But Regmon Chaney, assistant director of Minority Recruitment, is not as optimistic.
“As far as diversity among race is concerned, I think the article is inaccurate,” he said. “We are in desperate need of increasing our African American enrollment.”
Chaney said LSU excels in recruitment of students from diverse backgrounds, genders and geographical areas.
“I think our diversity in those areas is due in large part to our admissions office,” he said. “We’re reaching out into more states and going to more schools in-state, so we’re recruiting a larger and more diverse array of students.”
Numbers and percentages paint a positive picture, but some LSU students agree with Chaney’s negative assessment.
“When I originally saw the story on the news, I was like a deer in headlights,” said Brandon Smith, a political science junior and Black Student Union president. “I am cautiously optimistic about the honor.”
Smith said that, institutionally, LSU is making strides toward an increase in diversity.
“But as far as students interacting on this campus, I think that there is an abundance of incubated intolerance,” Smith said. “There are premature, unorganized, abstract arrays of ideas and stereotypes that students hold. We have to work through that as a student body.”
Maila Nelson, a biological sciences junior in biological sciences, offers an interesting perspective on the issue, because she recently transferred from St. John’s University.
“I went to college in New York,” she said. “LSU is not diverse.”
On the other hand, there are students like Maurice Gipson, a marketing junior, who are excited to see the University receiving credit for its diversity.
“I think the rating is accurate,” he said. “We really are diverse.”
Anurabha Vij, a business junior and international student, agrees that LSU has an impressive level of diversity.
“I think this campus is diverse, but it’s still difficult for an international student to feel comfortable here,” she said. “We don’t have a lot of set programming for interaction with each other,” she said.
Vij added that she didn’t feel well-informed about the University. She said she did not know where to go and access help for everyday problems.
“Many international students are scared to talk to Americans,” she said. “And we are scared to go to teachers with our problems. In that way, cultural diversity is not where it could be.”
The numbers of minority students enrolled at LSU are high, but those for the faculty are not as encouraging.
Minorities compose only 14 percent of LSU’s faculty.
“The faculty simply has to become more diverse, and we’re working hard at it.” Emmert said.
Emmert pointed to departments such as English and chemistry, which are producing minority students at increasing numbers. He said this helps in recruitment.
Kevin Mulcahy, Sheldon Beychok Distinguished Professor of Political Science and Public Administration, said diversity among faculty is imperative. He said a university and its students are best served not just when minorities like women have high-profile positions, but when they are professors and hold department chairs.
Mulcahy also said diversity includes more than having a racially diverse student body.
“Diversity is about choices,” he said. “One of the big responsibilities of a university is to provide a safe space where different choices can be openly pursued.”
Mulcahy said that, in many ways, LSU and its surrounding area is one of the most culturally diverse areas in the world.
“Universities are often cultural venues for performing arts, and cultural awareness,” he said. “Most people do not understand the degree to which LSU fosters cultural diversity.”
Brittany May, a biochemistry freshman, agrees with Mulcahy.
“I don’t know about other colleges, but I think LSU is culturally diverse,” she said. “When you’re here, you can have pink hair, piercings, and make choices you weren’t free to make in high school. So yeah, LSU is diverse, in more ways than one.”