International cliques
The University of Indianapolis has become so diversified one may not need to travel the world to meet people from vastly different cultures, landscapes, backgrounds and beliefs. UIndy offers a plethora of diverse students from every corner of the globe. However, is the convergence of tribes, cultures, kingdoms and nations at UIndy a reflection of world unity?
In my observations, social comfort zones still take precedence over the level of social assimilation one would expect.
Despite the multicultural atmosphere at UIndy, it is not uncommon to find Asian students working as a group in the science labs, or on a class project, rather than in a mixed group.
The same fractionalization is evident at the cafeteria as well; the Asians dine together at a table and so do the African students, European students, Middle-Eastern students, African-American students and Caucasian-American students. The instinctive fractionalization is quite palpable.
This is not to say that there aren’t students at UIndy who have broken, or who continually break the barriers of race, ethnicity, nationality or culture.
The trend is one where most students are reluctant to step out of their comfort zones and take the road less trodden by embracing the richness in the diversity this university has to offer.
Apparently, the international coffee hours, taste of the world, celebration of the flags and all other diversity-celebrating programs on campus have not done enough to enthuse the average UIndy student into mixing up the party in the cafeteria, the hangouts and the class room group projects.
Nonetheless, UIndy students can improve their communication with traditionally unfamiliar populations and travel through the forests of culture, color, gender, abilities and socioeconomic differences.
Now, it can be argued that this trend is of course an issue of preference, and certainly, one has a right to one’s personal preferences. However, our generation has what previous generations missed out on: an education on the platform of diversity.
The hope for a more united and peaceful world depends on what we at UIndy do with our diverse community whether at the cafeteria, in our classrooms, or at the student’s hangout spots.
An overall understanding of the significant role of cultural variables in cross-cultural interaction may become the bridge to mutual indulgent and acceptance in the universal situations of cultural differences.
Understanding someone from another culture is more than the knowledge of how and why other people think and behave as they do. It also involves adjusting one’s own world-view, and this of course can begin at the cafeteria.
Join the Asians at their table and engage with them. Invite the Middle-Easterners to a pick-up basketball game, and join the Africans and Europeans for a soccer game on Friday; it may be the beginning of a better world.
As declared by the United Nations, “For humanity to move forward successfully in the 21st century, a spirit of unity must be cultivated within the hearts of all nations and people. A foundation must be laid that will allow each nation to grow and prosper individually, but also collectively within the context of an interdependent global community.”
A successful future for all nations and people depends upon strengthening the bonds of our commonality as human beings while honoring our differences. To create a healthy global environment for all nations to overcome the struggles they face, we must recognize that all have erred, and all have faults, yet each has cultural gifts to share.
Let us recognize and value those gifts. Let us celebrate the wealth of our diversity and strive to learn from each other and help one another in a spirit of openness, understanding, trust and respect. For what unites us is greater than what divides us.
