As you may have heard, Oxford Mayor Pat Patterson made some offensive and absurd comments this week about diversity on the Square.
Patterson told NewsWatch 99: “ If there were Dollar Generals and Family Dollars out there, you’d have a different demographics [sic].”
He went on to say, “There’s a big diversity, ‘diversity,’ push right now, that I think is, for the most part, silly.”
There are a lot of “silly” things in this world, but working to increase diversity is definitely not one of them.
Diversity — in every sense of the word — is inherently good. It allows for individuals to realize people see the world through many different lenses. It teaches us to respect others’ opinions, and more importantly, to learn from them.
As a public policy leadership major, diversity in policymaking ensures legislators consider how a new bill might impact different groups. Diversity is more than a buzzword: It is an integral part of our society.
Yet, many times, diversity seems to be feared.
When the Oxford City Council passed a diversity resolution several weeks ago, a man who spoke against the document said he worried about the day his wife would have to use a transgender bathrooms.
Seriously — the first thing that comes to your mind when you see “diversity” is transgender bathrooms?
I think there is some truth behind Mayor Patterson’s words.
The Square is exclusive in many ways because of the types of shops there. I, along with many other students, cannot afford to shop at the high-priced boutiques.
But there’s more about the Square than just cost that is prohibitive. There’s a sense, I think, that only certain people are welcome.
This phenomenon is not limited to the Square, however.
Walk around the Grove during football season, and you’ll be hard-pressed to find much diversity.
Personally, I have never felt comfortable in the Grove because I never have a tent where I can spend much time. I think this is partly because I am not a legacy, and I have no family members who attended this university. I’m not trying to cast a negative light on those who are legacies or have strong family connections here. We simply must be cognizant of the fact that, for many students, this type of legacy is not even a possibility for them, as their grandparents were barred from entry into this institution because of the color of their skin.
Go to the Union at lunchtime. Sit in an Honors College class. Look at the yearbook photos of the fraternities and sororities. In all of these situations, barriers divide, dissuade or completely bar some students from inclusion.
There have been steps taken by ASB and other groups to remedy some of the issues listed above, though.
This past football season, ASB introduced “Everybody’s Tent,” which was a great step at making those without a home in the Grove feel more included. If you were a student a few years ago, you may remember the Two + 2 program, started by former ASB President Taylor McGraw. Basically, the program matched you and a friend up with two random people every week, and the four of you would go to coffee or lunch. It was a great opportunity to meet students and faculty from all areas of campus, and I still have friends that I met during that program.
But Two + 2 is now gone, and there’s more that can, and should, be done.
The most memorable class I have taken was in Fall 2012 on the integration of the university. Never have I engaged in such open, honest dialogue with my peers, challenging each other in ways I never imagined possible. Yet, outside of that classroom, I find this campus is lacking in spaces in which students can truly express themselves.
When I visited the University of Chicago last fall, there were coffee shops — many of which were student-run — in what seemed like every building on campus. Instead of commercialized Starbucks, these spaces were each unique and comfortable in a way that I’ve never felt at The University of Mississippi.
In my time as a student here, I’ve seen the consequences of lingering divides on this campus — from the James Meredith statue this semester to the homophobic slurs used during the performance of “The Laramie Project” to the incendiary reactions on campus after the re-election of President Obama.
In the 21st century, diversity is not a thing to be feared.
Until we — students, faculty, staff, community members — wholeheartedly embrace diversity, this university and city will remain burdened by these divisions.
Christine Dicakson is a junior public policy leadership major from Collierville, Tenn.
