Some students uneasy with minority campus

According to some students, it may take more than a handbook to make life easier for minority students at the University.

The recent publication of How to Succeed on a Majority Campus: A Guide for Minority Students by Marc Levey, senior diversity planning analyst at the University, gives strategies for minority students to adjust to campus and make the most of their college experience.

"I guess the book could be beneficial, but when you come right down to it, a book isn't going to make the difference in adapting to college," Bianca Martinez (junior-journalism) said.

Martinez said she feels having a positive attitude makes the difference in adjusting to the college scene.

"You have to come and not look at color," she said. "When I go to class, I don't look and say, 'OK, there's a lot of white students, two Hispanics and three black students.' You will just hold yourself back."

Some minority students said it really depends on the individual student in how they adjust to the University. Although there are students who find this area diverse, some students said there is a lack of diversity at the University.

Elena Reinoso (sophomore-division of undergraduate studies) said the University is less diverse than her high school.

"It's a culture shock to come here," she said. "I was ready to transfer my first year. It was so different than what I was used to. But then I found my niche and got involved."

Although she found her niche, she said she knows others have difficulty adjusting to University life. She said she was not aware of the new handbook and is not sure if it will help minority students adjust.

"I just think people need to be open-minded," Reinoso said. "People need to be open to experiences. If not, you'll never survive."

However, some students say handbook or not, there will always be differences between students at the University.

"Unless you can shoot a basketball or run with a basketball, it's no fun being a black person here," said Patrice McBride (sophomore-division of undergraduate studies).

McBride said he was late for an audio-engineering speech and noticed there were mostly white people in the audience. When he walked in, he said the speaker stopped his speech and asked him if he was lost. He said he doesn't think that would've happened if he wasn't black.

Although some students may feel alienated at the University, Stephanie Byrd (junior-electrical engineering) said she doesn't, but understands how some people could.

"I do know there's a difference, and there's a difference in how they see us. It's something that's not spoken. It's inherent," she said.

Like Byrd, Amanda Katsurada, president of the Japanese-American Association, said she has never experienced this separation, but does recognize its existence.

"There are still some people who are biased against other people," she said.

Katsurada (senior-anthropology and comparative literature) said it is beneficial to take advantage of other cultural activities, as many of the multicultural groups serve to support and educate students.

Nevertheless, there are students on campus who feel the diversity issue is simply inevitable.

Jeffrey Campbell (sophomore-mechanical engineering) said he is not bothered by the white majority.

"It really doesn't bother me," he said. "This is the best way to get prepared for the real world, because that's how it's going to be."