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Comparable Schools'
Diversity Grades:
College Prowler Take
Diversity is a touchy issue at Gustavus. Admissions is constantly under fire with how to represent diversity. Though over 90 percent of the campus is Caucasian, Admissions wants to promote diversity in their materials not only in order to draw in more students of diverse backgrounds, but also to show students that there are, in fact, minorities on campus. The issue of diversity at Gustavus is all 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. Still, the school’s push to diversify campus has resulted in the building of the International Center and the Diversity Center. At the International Center, minorities and other students live together and are encouraged to promote cultural awareness. The mission of the Diversity Center is to make all students feel comfortable and to make the campus more in-tune with minorities’ needs, but the campus often still remains divided. The student body is still mostly comprised of Midwestern, Caucasian Lutherans, and many minority students claim that the student body leaves them out of events, while the majority claims that the heavy-handed push for diversity makes them feel as though they are constantly being accused of insensitivity. Students Speak Out
Love your school more than free food? Hate your school more than term papers?
Somewhere in between? Show the world what YOU think of YOUR school:
Anonymous says:  |
Diversity? Ha! It’s a joke at...
Diversity? Ha! It’s a joke at Gustavus. They make such a big deal about trying to be diverse, but let’s be honest, it’s not gonna happen. The worst part is, the Diversity Center is one of the most biased and racist places on campus. In their eyes, you’re only worth acknowledging if you’re not white or you have a ‘foreign sounding’ name. I know this because I was asked to join the multicultural group my freshman year because my name sounded foreign. When they found out I considered myself white and I didn’t really do much with diversity issues, they stopped contacting me. |
Anonymous says: |
It’s not very diverse; however,...
It’s not very diverse; however, this is something that the school is working on. There are a lot of programs that promote diversity, and I feel that I have learned a lot from these programs. To celebrate Ramadan, the president of the College hosted a meal to break the fast. It was an amazing experience, because not only did I learn about Ramadan, but now the president of the College knows me by name! |
Anonymous says: |
The Gustavus campus is very...
The Gustavus campus is very limited with its diversity. And furthermore, I think that those who ‘promote’ diversity through the Diversity Center and its events, are some of the most exclusive people at the College. |
Anonymous says: |
It’s a lily-white Swedish American...
It’s a lily-white Swedish American Lutheran school. |
Anonymous says: |
Our campus isn’t that diverse if...
Our campus isn’t that diverse if we are talking in terms of race and ethnicity, but it also depends on how one defines the term ‘diversity.’ Personally, diversity means much more than race or ethnicity. Diversity is about people’s life experiences, their economic background, family history, religion, if they have a disability, and so forth. Although I may view diversity as a much broader topic, diversity to our school’s administration is, unfortunately, rather narrow-minded. |
FactsEconomic Status
Generally middle class
Gay Pride
Each fall, the Diversity Center and Queers and Allies sponsors Coming Out Week, an opportunity to raise gay awareness around campus. Though the week has had notable events in recent years (including a full-on drag show in the Market Place), Gustavus doesn’t do much to show continuing support of the homosexual community during the rest of the year.
Minority Clubs
Queer and Allies, Pan Afrikan Student Organization, Asian Cultures Club, Crossroads, Womyn’s Center
Most Common Religions
Lutheran, Catholic, Protestant
Political Activity
Gustavus is a politically-minded, politically-conscious campus. The College Democrats thrive, successfully bringing in politicians, speakers, and activists. The College Republicans have died out in recent years, but don’t let their lack of visibility fool you: there are plenty of conservatives running around; most of them just don't like to admit it.
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