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Sarah Lawrence College - DiversityCollege Prowler1.93
Comparable Schools'
Diversity Grades:
College Prowler Take
Diversity is a sore spot on campus among students, faculty, and administrators. Complaints about a lack of ethnic and economic diversity are supported by the stats. It’s one of SLC’s most glaring weak spots, but there is no easy solution. The college is trying to increase its financial aid resources so it can accept more students from middle-class backgrounds, but in the meantime, the imbalance will remain intact. Political diversity is another sensitive subject. Conservatives are such a minority that it’s difficult to find any non-liberal viewpoints during discussions. Recent renovations on campus have designated areas for non-partisan political meetings as well as for non-denominational spiritual practice. When it comes to sexual diversity, SLC triumphs. Open dialogues about human sexuality are encouraged on campus and in the classroom. If this kind of attitude makes you uneasy, then SLC may not be for you. There is a significant gay, lesbian, and transgender population and tolerance is a non-issue. Clubs such as the Queer Variety Coalition organize campus-wide events and workshops to foster a community that not only accepts individual preferences, but is also willing to explore and question cultural notions of sexual identity. 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:  |
As a white girl, I was a minority...
As a white girl, I was a minority in my high school. SLC is very different. The people here very much want to view themselves as accepting and worldly. They have good intentions, but sereotypes and prejudices do get in the way. |
Anonymous says: |
I go to church every weekend. It’s...
I go to church every weekend. It’s not something I’m proud of at SLC. In fact, I avoid telling people because people give you weird looks when you do. Being religious is perceived as being foolish. |
Anonymous says: |
I grew up in New York, but my...
I grew up in New York, but my parents are Puerto Rican, so I look dark-skinned. I don’t really have any complaints. I knew what SLC was like before I came here, and I’ve never had any problems with being a minority here. |
Anonymous says: |
SLC is not very diverse. There’s...
SLC is not very diverse. There’s mostly rich, white, private-school kids from New England or California. |
Anonymous says: |
I hate to say this, but if you’re...
I hate to say this, but if you’re an ethnic minority, you’re going to feel like an outsider at SLC. |
Interested in
Sarah Lawrence? FactsEconomic Status
The sky-high tuition and lack of financial aid means that a majority of students come from wealthy backgrounds. Some students flaunt it, others try to hide it, and often those students who aren’t as well-off are vocal in their resentment of the abundance of “rich, white kids” on campus.
Gay Pride
The gay community is a major force in all aspects of SLC life—from the curriculum, in which there is a lesbian, gay, and transgender studies field, to the most popular on-campus party, the Sleazeball, organized in part by the Queer Variety Coalition. There’s a good chance that if you ask an SLC student if he or she is gay or straight, they’ll tell you that they’re neither and that they’re attracted to personalities, not genders. While acceptance of gays on an individual basis is a non-issue, some students complain that homosexuality comprises too much of the SLC identity. The slogan-of-choice amongst students is, after all, "Queer in a year or your money back."
Minority Clubs on Campus
Minority clubs are highly-visible and very active on campus. For example, the Asian Pacific Island Coalition for Diversity publishes a newsletter and runs barbecues, a homemade food delivery service, and other public events to generate awareness of Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander cultural issues. Other major groups include Harambe, the Muslim Student Association, and Unidad.
Most Common Religions
Religion is not trendy at SLC, but there are Christian, Jewish, and Muslim organizations. There is also a non-denominational spiritual space on campus.
Political Activity
Despite a history of political activism, students often complain that the campus, on the whole, is apathetic to political happenings and too lazy to get involved. Liberalism is predominant, and conservatism is usually severely frowned upon. That being said, there are on-campus groups that organize trips to political rallies and protests, hold fundraisers, and meet in the Red Room.
Did You Know?A student-run organization known as Support for Special Needs Individuals is determined to improve conditions on campus for physically-disabled students.
Most Recent Contributing Author
Name: Bobby Phillips
Hometown: Chatsworth, CA
Major: Narratives Fun Fact: Bobby can wriggle his ears. Contributing Author Internship
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