Viewpoint: Sikh shooting makes importance of campus diversity clear

Go on any campus tour or attend any freshman orientation and chances are there will be a question raised or a discussion given regarding the school’s commitment to diversity.

Diversity is a hot issue on college campuses, and in the days following the senseless shooting at a Sikh temple near Milwaukee, the importance of diversity in higher education becomes clear.

Why 40-year-old Wade Michael Page decided to take a semi-automatic weapon into the temple with the intention of murdering innocent people may never be certain, but with reports of Page’s participation in neo-Nazi activities, one thing is certain: He was immersed in a culture of hate.

And while neo-Nazi and white-supremacist groups are relatively off the radar for many Americans, the number of hate organizations in the United States as increased 69% since 2000.

The ethnocentric and egocentric thinking that consumes such groups can only promote anger and hate when we live in such a diverse global community.

In many ways the college experience, especially at large universities, is the first interaction young people have with a diverse community and a time when they can break out of that egocentric shell in order to move beyond their selves and gain a more complete perspective of the world around them.

College campuses are filled with students from all walks of life, promoting diversity not only of race, ethnicity and gender, but also of socioeconomic status, sexual orientation and religion.

Often times there are multicultural clubs on campus serving not only to unite people of similar cultures, but also to educate the rest of the student body of the importance of that culture in society. Those groups often hold events on campus celebrating cultural heritage while exposing others to new customs.

Part of a student’s education is not only mastery of the basics of their chosen area of study, but also preparation for future success in a pluralistic world.

Regardless of profession, students can expect to find themselves working with employers, employees, clients and co-workers from diverse backgrounds. By experiencing diversity in college, young people are given the foundation to collaborate with people of all nationalities.
Interacting with people of diverse cultures, religious beliefs or sexual orientations broadens students’ horizons, allowing them to find success in a multiethnic society -- but only if students take the initiative to become well informed.

Read about different cultures, attend cultural events on campus and escape from the ignorance that affects so many people in our society.

Learn the difference between Sikhs and Muslims. Both wear turbans, but that doesn’t mean they possess the same religious beliefs.

Honor those lost in Sikh temple shooting by embracing diversity and becoming educated about the nation’s and the world’s important cultures.

Amanda Kelly is a Summer 2012 USA TODAY Collegiate Correspondent. Learn more about her here.

This story originally appeared on the USA TODAY College blog, a news source produced for college students by student journalists. The blog closed in September of 2017.