A general education requirement mandating courses on cultural diversity could help broaden the perspectives of students at the University and improve the cross-cultural understanding between ethnic and racial groups.

Like English 15 and Speech Communications classes, a course on diversity also would offer students a necessary skill -- recognizing and understanding cultural differences.

The University is considering requiring such a class, proposed by the Subcommittee on Diversity, to help create a pluralistic society and cultivate knowledgeable students. As one-third of American citizens are estimated to be members of minority groups in the future, an education inclusive of racial and international history is a logical necessity.

Mandatory cross-cultural courses could increase the number of minority faculty members and provide minority students with academic role models. Consequently, that improvement might help the University reach its minority recruitment and retention goals.

The proposed draft is now weaving through the approval process and various organizations, including the Administrative Council on Undergraduate Education and the Undergraduate Student Government's Academic Assembly, are reviewing its details.

While the proposal still is vague and does not specify particular offerings, the final curriculum requirement could appear as early as Fall 1990 and might involve existing black and women's studies courses, as well as new ones.

It is important while administrators still are shaping the course that they seek input from students and faculty to insure the final requirements best meet the needs of the community. Instructors currently teaching courses and interested students are most informed about what should be required.

With courses designed to improve understanding between cultures in a society which constantly grows more complex, the discussion on these courses must come from a similarly diverse base.