It's not all vanilla in Athens.
The
Profiles in Diversity Journal featured Ohio
University this month, highlighting OU as “a beacon of cultural and intellectual light … at the forefront of diversity in higher education.”
The bi-monthly magazine, now in its 13th year, focuses on “diversity/inclusion in business, government, non-profit, higher education and military settings,” according to its website.
OU has many student organizations and programs designed to make the campus more diverse, some of which were featured in the magazine.
"OU definitely offers opportunities for diversity both inside and outside of the classroom," said Brain Bridges, vice provost for diversity, access and equity, in an interview.
The article spotlighted OU's Women's Center, which opened in 2007 and has worked to increase gender awareness, and the LGBT Center, which works with those who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender, as well as those who identify as straight allies.
However, the center has faced difficulties in recent years.
“I would love to see us grow a little bit in terms of staff since traffic has grown so much,” LGBT Center Director Mickey Hart told the magazine. “But budget cuts have impacted us. We have limited resources and growing numbers.”
OU's Center for International Studies, which brings students to Athens from throughout the world, has seen an increase in numbers from previous years, Bridges said.
In 2010, 81.6 percent of OU students were white, 4.5 percent were black, and 7 percent were international students, primarily from China and India.
"We can always do better in terms of diversity," Bridges said. "We are working to do that."
Bridges said OU's efforts toward that goal include new residence-hall programs focused on diversity and an emphasis on diversity at orientations, which he said will make others take note of the various populations on campus.
“We have made some progress in increasing the diversity of Ohio University, but our work is far from complete,” OU President Roderick McDavis told the magazine. “We have seen positive changes in action through the expansion of initiatives, activities and scholarship support. This work has begun to yield results, but progress is slow.”
sj950610@ohiou.edu
