Gustavus Adolphus College
- Diversity

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Student Author OverviewWhat's This?

The issue of diversity can be a contentious one at Gustavus. Admissions tries to get not only economic and ethnic diversity, but also students from outside of Minnesota. Students know that there are organizations and offices to advance religious, ethnic, or political minority awareness, and surprisingly—despite most of the campus being white, middle class, and Protestant—these groups are popular and attract a crowd. The issue of diversity at Gustavus is in the eye of the beholder: For many students who come from small towns, the campus seems diverse. For those hailing from big cities, it’s a complete sea of sameness.

Diversity can be looked at in many ways, but the usual approach is through race or religion. The usual critique is that so many students are white, Minnesotan, and Protestant. Historically, being that Gustavus is an ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America) college founded by Swedish immigrants, it makes sense that this is the majority of students. However, Gustavus is quite aware of this criticism and works to attract minorities and support them once they arrive. Whether they're from Senegal, are Jewish, or are the first in their family to attend college, Gustavus takes its responsibility very seriously to help minority students feel comfortable and safe. Gustavus gives them the ability to completely assimilate into the student majority or to embrace their difference and proudly stand out. Don't be surprised if your roommate is gay, atheist, or Vietnamese.

Gustavus Student ReviewsWhat's This?

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Diversity at Gustavus Adolphus College

mpatter2

Computer Science '14

2.7

C+

Not So Great

At 15% it can be bad for big city people. But if you care about diversity it is easy to find because there are many individuals here.

Mar 03, 2012

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Diversity at Gustavus Adolphus College

smundhen

Chemistry '13

3.8

B+

Tolerance

People are pretty accepting on campus no matter what color, religious background, political, or economic background. However, there are some non-tolerant of diversity occurrences on campus, but when these happen the community comes together and recognizes there isn't room for intolerance.

Oct 16, 2011

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Diversity at Gustavus Adolphus College

jdoan6

Political Science and Government '12

4.6

A

Encouraging, Accepting, Open-Minded Diversity

Gustavus Promotes diversity through their diversity center, organizations and events put on by the school. For example, Coming Out Week is a week where those who are not public with their sexual orientation are encouraged to "come out." We also encourage studying abroad for all students and faculty to understand different cultures. Gustavus encourages everyone to be accepting and open-minded about diversity and what it brings to the campus.

Oct 07, 2011

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Student Survey Poll ResultsWhat's This?

How diverse is the student body in the following areas?

How diverse is your personal circle of friends in the following areas?

How accepting is the campus community as a whole toward someone who falls into the minority (ethnic, sexual, or religious)?

How would you best describe your personal political beliefs?

How would you best describe the political beliefs of campus as a whole?

Facts