2008 Woodie Awards
Many ignore multicultural week
Rachel Carr, Staff Writer
Issue date: 11/21/06
Last Updated: 12/26/07
"People don't tend to want to go to them or don't know what they are about," Orosco said.
Many students at Reyes' talk voiced concerns about having a difficult time at Whitworth and from students to faculty, no one was very worried about their problems. These minority students voiced concerns about not just being unseen or unheard, but in reality, silenced.
"The environment here on campus for me as a minority woman has been difficult, unwelcoming and uncomfortable, but it has also been an environment that has challenged me to step out of my comfort zone to learn and embrace difference, even within dominate culture," Orosco said.
The challenge at Whitworth is not so much having an answer to the problem of diversity but knowing how to change it and taking those actions, Reyes said. We should meet people where they are. Our goal with diversity should be to include the excluded and respond to hate with love.
As a Christian institution, we should respond to those of different races, religions, genders, ethnicities and sexual orientations with the unconditional love (agape) that Christ compels us to use.
"You have heard that it was said, 'Love (agape) your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven," Jesus said at the Sermon on the Mount.
As a non-Christian on campus, I can definitely say that I concur with Orosco's feelings of distress. I have experienced routine prejudice and intolerance. And although I did choose Whitworth knowing full well of its Christian nature, I should not have to fear hostility as a minority but should expect to be received with loving arms.
The whole point is that exposure and interactions with people from all types of cultures and perspectives are vital to a complete education. A major part of this is starting dialogue about the real issues.
"We want to start dialogue, to show why diversity is important," Orosco said.
These experiences help us to grow a loving heart, free our minds and rid ourselves of ignorance. This is "so we can start understanding differences, work through those differences and learn that those differences aren't bad," Orosco said.
Many students at Reyes' talk voiced concerns about having a difficult time at Whitworth and from students to faculty, no one was very worried about their problems. These minority students voiced concerns about not just being unseen or unheard, but in reality, silenced.
"The environment here on campus for me as a minority woman has been difficult, unwelcoming and uncomfortable, but it has also been an environment that has challenged me to step out of my comfort zone to learn and embrace difference, even within dominate culture," Orosco said.
The challenge at Whitworth is not so much having an answer to the problem of diversity but knowing how to change it and taking those actions, Reyes said. We should meet people where they are. Our goal with diversity should be to include the excluded and respond to hate with love.
As a Christian institution, we should respond to those of different races, religions, genders, ethnicities and sexual orientations with the unconditional love (agape) that Christ compels us to use.
"You have heard that it was said, 'Love (agape) your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven," Jesus said at the Sermon on the Mount.
As a non-Christian on campus, I can definitely say that I concur with Orosco's feelings of distress. I have experienced routine prejudice and intolerance. And although I did choose Whitworth knowing full well of its Christian nature, I should not have to fear hostility as a minority but should expect to be received with loving arms.
The whole point is that exposure and interactions with people from all types of cultures and perspectives are vital to a complete education. A major part of this is starting dialogue about the real issues.
"We want to start dialogue, to show why diversity is important," Orosco said.
These experiences help us to grow a loving heart, free our minds and rid ourselves of ignorance. This is "so we can start understanding differences, work through those differences and learn that those differences aren't bad," Orosco said.
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