Campus community looks for minority representation
Alana Kansaku-Sarmiento
Issue date: 3/11/10 Section: Student Life
At first glance, Pacific University's campus would seem to be the most diverse private university campus in the Pacific Northwest. With approximately 20-25 percent of students hailing from the Hawaiian islands, it most likely is. Aside from that however, there is a significantly smaller portion of ethnic minorities in attendance.
Of the approximately 1,320 students currently enrolled in the undergraduate program, 90 have self-defined as Hispanic, North American or African American on their application form, according to the university.
Members of these three racial categories are the focus of a revived attempt to organize a group of students to act as a voice for the underrepresented minorities on campus.
"[Basketball Coach Jason] Lowery has been the force behind the concept," said Alfonso Lopez-Vasquez, education professor and Assistant to the Provost for Diversity.
"I asked [his athletes] how many of them were from schools that were predominantly minority[-based], and a great number of them came from those settings," said Vasquez. "When his players leave the basketball court and become immersed in student life activities - when they move on, there's that adjustment, that adaptation."
Coach Lowery, who also attended a small, private liberal arts college, said that as a minority, it was beneficial to have a group there to offer support.
"[The absence of a group for minorities] is something I've noticed ever since I've been here," said Lowery. "As the school raises the initiative to increase diversity, I felt it was more important that we have things in place when [those students] get here."
Vasquez, Lowery and Vice President of Student Life Eva Krebs held a meeting in December with about 20 Hispanic, Native American and African American students in an attempt to ignite discussion surrounding underrepresented minorities.
"Our main process was to facilitate the getting-together for the students to identify what they perceive to be the challenges and opportunities they encounter on campus, and help us define ways of responding," said Vasquez. "Historically, student groups create their own support system, so we're working with that premise that they'll be able to nurture their own system."
Of the approximately 1,320 students currently enrolled in the undergraduate program, 90 have self-defined as Hispanic, North American or African American on their application form, according to the university.
Members of these three racial categories are the focus of a revived attempt to organize a group of students to act as a voice for the underrepresented minorities on campus.
"[Basketball Coach Jason] Lowery has been the force behind the concept," said Alfonso Lopez-Vasquez, education professor and Assistant to the Provost for Diversity.
"I asked [his athletes] how many of them were from schools that were predominantly minority[-based], and a great number of them came from those settings," said Vasquez. "When his players leave the basketball court and become immersed in student life activities - when they move on, there's that adjustment, that adaptation."
Coach Lowery, who also attended a small, private liberal arts college, said that as a minority, it was beneficial to have a group there to offer support.
"[The absence of a group for minorities] is something I've noticed ever since I've been here," said Lowery. "As the school raises the initiative to increase diversity, I felt it was more important that we have things in place when [those students] get here."
Vasquez, Lowery and Vice President of Student Life Eva Krebs held a meeting in December with about 20 Hispanic, Native American and African American students in an attempt to ignite discussion surrounding underrepresented minorities.
"Our main process was to facilitate the getting-together for the students to identify what they perceive to be the challenges and opportunities they encounter on campus, and help us define ways of responding," said Vasquez. "Historically, student groups create their own support system, so we're working with that premise that they'll be able to nurture their own system."
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