Searching for Tolerance in Eugene, Oregon.

At the start of this term, we were given the topic “Tolerance on Campus.”

There are so many different ways we considered spinning this project.  Tolerance of Race, Gender, Sexual Orientation, and Religion are all represented here at the U of O.  Would we advocate our tolerance or point to a lack thereof?  Or take a stand on a single issue?  Suffice it to say, it took us a few weeks to establish our focus: The ethnic makeup of our student population and how that diverse element adapts to the learning environment here in Eugene.

Going into this project our perception of the University’s tolerance was that while we profess to be a very inclusive and friendly community, it seemed that there wasn’t any major effort being made to attract students from different racial backgrounds.  This proved to be far from the truth.

As a group we’ve learned that diversity is more than a simple idea.  Many factors go into creating an environment of tolerance and diversity; both are interwoven so closely that by changing one you affect both.

There are several programs here on campus devoted to maximizing the University of Oregon’s diverse potential and ensure that our campus isn’t just a sea of white faces.  The state of Oregon might be a predominantly white state, but there are plenty of minority students still out there who can’t go to school for lack of funding, or because resources aren’t in place to encourage them to get a higher education. Offices such as OMAS, ISA, and OIED help narrow the gap between the privileged elite and the financially stifled minority.

The Office of Multicultural Academic Success, or OMAS, is a program on the University of Oregon campus that helps students of color and multicultural students succeed in a predominantly white school. They offer academic support, scholarships and academic programs, activities and collaborations for students of color. Along with academic support, the office also offers tutoring assistance and special writing and math classes just for minority students. Ultimately, their goal is to help students transition into college life.

Dr. Cramer, the director of OMAS, explains, “[we are] a support program for self identified students of color.” Cramer explains how crucial it is for students of color to feel that they are important to the entire University community. Because students of color coming into the university are at a greater risk of isolation, OMAS strives to provide a supportive environment where students can feel a sense of community and belonging.

Dr. Tingey, a professor of an OMAS math class, explains why programs like OMAS will always be necessary. He explains “OMAS…is trying to overcome some of the disparities to make college more equitable.”

The students who are a part of OMAS thank and attribute their success at school to the efforts of the supportive staff members. “It’s helped me get to know people that can help me out with various academic things…I owe [OMAS] for a lot of academic help and friends,” says one OMAS student.

The University of Oregon also provides other support groups here on campus. The International Student Association (ISA) is a Student Group that is geared towards creating a welcoming environment for international students. They represent approximately 1600 international students from over 90 different countries. With a large staff of workers and volunteers, their goal is to assist international students in their transition from their country of origin into a new American culture and society. In order to accomplish this goal, the ISA holds events for both international and domestic students and they promote diversity through these interactions. They hold weekly coffee hours and seasonal dances and encourage both international and American students to attend. Their goal is to not just promote a comfort for those of a common nationality but to also blend these events with cultural diversity, creating a mixed cultural experience.

The Office of Institutional Equity and Diversity (OIED) is another center that promotes an equitable experience for all students of color on campus. Their goal is to ensure that all students of color have access to opportunities, benefits and resources on campus and that their educational support is guaranteed. Students can use the OIED as a hub of information and can find resources and advising by experts who focus solely on equity and diversity. Also, through various diversity programs, OIED provides students with various academic support and help create links to the campus and outside communities. With these programs, students of color are able to develop in an environment that is comfortable to them while also interconnecting their culture with other cultures.

Our interviews and research showed us that everyone associated with the diversity programs at the University of Oregon were pleased with the work and support from organizations like OMAS, but they were also disappointed because they feel the university isn’t doing enough.  Many students of color still don’t receive the support needed to make a successful transition.

Duck Tolerance believes that programs like OMAS, OIED, and ISA are steps in the right direction, but institutes for higher education must be held to a higher standard. The consequences of racism and intolerance are noticeably damaging when applied to the academic community.  Discrimination and racial prejudice can unnecessarily cut the world off from scientific and artistic brilliance.  More than that, each individual deserves the same chance to discover how he or she can contribute to our world.  Depending on organizations like OMAS to maintain a diverse and tolerant culture creates fragmented accountability.  Teachers, administrators, and other faculty members must address these issues so that no one is left feeling isolated and excluded. We as a university, community, and society in general should always strive for the ideal that each individual has the opportunity to achieve what he or she is capable of.  Our great hope at Duck Tolerance is that in the future we can learn in an environment that only focuses on individual needs regardless of the color of their skin or the difference of their culture.

Our group poster

Better Diversity Equals Better Grades?

Recent studies have suggested that the more diversity a college or university has to offer, the better off the students are educationally and socially. The idea that racial or ethnic clustering can lead to improved psychological health as well as educational success. Whether this is true or not, it seems to be an intriguing topic to further examine.

Ask The White Shadow

Dear White Shadow,

I’m a lonely Asian-American student here at the University of Oregon, and I’m looking for a way to meet cool new friends on campus.  I’m shy, but I love board games and sharing a laugh!

-Sick of Solitude

Move over Communism, there’s a new RED in town

There is a group of like-minded, like-skinned individuals scampering around all squinty-eyed at this quaint unassuming university.  You may see them lumbering to class on rainy days, happier than your average student.  You may see them greedily ogling the average kids laying in the grass on sunny days.  You may even see them daydreaming about huge puffy clouds and a childhood that wasn’t spent indoors or covered in white blotchy sunscreen. These shadow lurkers are Gingers[1]. They may look like they have a soul, but never let their pale skin and recessive genes fool you.  The red on their collective heads reflects the blood lust in their hearts.

Eugene: As Tolerant as Advertised?

The University of Oregon is known for many things, from its blistering track athletes and lovable hippies to strong academic ideals and principles.  It’s also supposed to be located in one of the most progressive and liberal communities in the state:  Eugene.  But beneath the pro-environment, pro-diversity veneer lies a darker side.  Is Eugene as diverse and free-thinking as advertised?

Finding Diversity at the University of Oregon

The University of Oregon is well-known for its international student programs. Accepting more than 1,400 international students for the 2009-10 academic year, you would think the U of O would be a racially tolerant school. Though the University of Oregon has many student organizations that focus on bringing certain racial groups together, how hard does the school try to integrate the international students with those from the United States?

U of O is White…and Stuck White

If you were to ask any of the Eugene student population at the University of Oregon if their campus is diverse most would tell you no—unless we are talking about the athletes or the large number of international Asian students. Our campus is white and that is all there is to it.  So is this an issue or is it normal for most universities to have a large amount of one specific race?

Too PC or Not Too PC

Groups like the Klu Klux Klan and Al Qaeda promote racial and religious superiority and righteousness.  In Eugene Oregon, the Pacifica Forum has been rooted in recent controversy by using a public forum to denounce the existence of the Holocaust.  These types of extremist groups want to demean and belittle people who differ from themselves simply because they exhibit physical and cultural differences.  These types of groups are transparently racist.