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Show r OPINIONS VOL L ISSUE 2 www.uviireview.com JULY 19, 2010 Diversity Training: A Dying Concept By AGUSTIN DIAZ, JR. Opinions Writer We are a growing pow- ulty and staff to interact and erhouse! According to Utah. learn from this quiet influx com, we are "Utah's fastest of diversity, what exactly do growing facility for higher we have? education and learning." We are drawing students from "Any university different locations within the r ^country and even outside the with less than a 15 fnited States - but are we percent multicultural r£ady for it? population ... needs have a low degree of to address cultural, fiversity, but one only needs ethnic, and other look at the fact book on £ university's website to diversity issues that e that by the year 2008 we have not been rec?re moving forward with Wjnall but crucial steps to- ognized in the past." ' cultural diversity. **• According to the fact)ok posted by the campus's As we grow and strengthof Institutional Re- en ourselves within the dij^Jsearch & Information, we've verse spectrum of what edufrom 1,362 minority cation is drawing in, we need 2^£tudents in 2003 to 3,125 to become prepared to deal ££$n 2009. Currently the uni- with a variety of issues that y boasts a proud num- each culture, ethnicity and .bfer, compared to previous gender and sexual orienta5 , of close to 1800 His- tion may bring. Both faculty 366 Pacific Island- and staff members need to brs, 333 Native Americans, learn how to work, mediate g£& Asians and 242 African and operate with a diverse group or population:-* ^ • r American students. C*J^~ So one would think the This is still a very con^institution would mold itself servative, male, Caucasian fif the diverse assortment facility within a very conserarriving students and vative, male, Caucasian state learn how interaction is af- who do Jiot deal with the fected by such diversity by same issues multi-cultural training staff and faculty in individuals do in the education system. Nor do they those respects. However, Human Re- resolve them the way these sources say that there is no individuals would. formal diversity training at One faculty member UVU and student govern- who asked to remain anonyment representatives are mous argued the point this lukewarm. So if we don't way, "Any university with have anything that helps fac- less than a 15 percent mul- ticultural population that is increasing rapidly needs to address cultural, ethnic, and other diversity issues that have not been recognized in the past." Research shows diversity training within an institution can lead to beneficial and enlightening experiences. Dr. Whitla of Harvard University has directed his research of student achievement and multicultural climates through the National Campus Diversity Project. Whitla found that students and universities benefit greatly from being interculturally competent. His studies with law students in Michigan and Harvard have shown that after participating in the study, students regard diversity as a crucial element to their experience that has changed their perception of education and the legal system. Students would also associate and interact with students of diverse backgrounds more than they ever had before. Whitla hopes that his research will lead to programs that become more efficient as they strive to reduce dropouts from underrepresented minority students. Diversity trainers are not impossible to get a hold of, either. People like Lee Mun Wah of Stir Fry Seminars of California and Chris Cul-, linan of the University of Oregon can produce great results with their trainings and can provide us those life-changing experiences of cross-cultural proficiency at an affordable price. Why aren't our faculty and staff given the preparation that they need for the emergent variety in our student population? Funding is understandably a problem but the outcomes will outweigh the cost tremendously. Diversity introduces innovation and creativity to a number of organizations. If stu- dents can harness and utilize such powers, then we are only more prepared to enter a unique and colorful world filled with different thought Una SuHafu at the Polynesian Legacy performance at Thanksgiving Point, 2009. New Roads, New Jobs? processes, languages, skin tones, and abilities. 'The journey that is needed begins with first acknowledging that we don't know," says one faculty member, "and being open to what it is that we need to learn." Quite simply, we all need to learn more about diversity. Courtesy of the UVU Multicultural Center How the Nu Skin Project on Center Street* May Affect You as its economy? Corpora- beautiful chorus of syllables. tions have their benefits, and Sure, we love the historicwhen you look at the rate of feel of downtown Provo, but small businesses filing bank- if we're struggling to get a ruptcy, it's easy to assume job, we want something to corporations will weather change in an economic and this economy better. beneficial way. But looking back in UVU student Tricia recent years, we see big Wagner said, "If we can crecompanies failing as well. ate jobs and boost our econRemember when General omy, it's a good tradeoff." Motors was bailed out by Byron Putnam, another the federal government and student, said, "I'm a big fan then declared of historic v bankruptcy a ^— -*-*r> Provo and year ago? Or keeping it "If we can create that way that Lehman Brothers jobs and boost but I can see our Holdings the economic filed for the economy, it's a good benefits too. Construction along Center Street In Provo could pave the woy for new student jobs. Jake Buntjer/UVU Review largest bankSo what tritradeoff." ruptcy in the umphs over role it will play in helping to history of — the other?" the existing headquarters, are looking for jobs in the ^ y CELESTE THOLEN revitalize downtown, gener- the United Since essentially covering the area fall and later when they are Asst. Opinions Editor between 100 West and 100 looking for internships or ca- ate economic development States? At least when a small not every job at Nu Skin South. Provo city council reers, they may find the ex- and provide additional green business closes its doors, involves distributing their space for Provo." f- Provo Center Street's his- members voted that exist- pansion beneficial to them. those employees still have product and selling out your So economically, this strong personal references to friends to the company, it toric south side between 100 ing businesses vacate and According to Nu Skin, \Sfest and University Avenue relocate to accommodate the the project will bring around may be a good move - and hand in with their resume. doesn't seem directly unethlet's face it, most people ijfin for a transformation. So yes, Nu Skin can creical to be employed as a pubplaza, giving Nu Skin the 400 new employees into the 5?; Nu Skin, a multilevel- go-ahead on the project. company's downtown offic- are more worried about the ate jobs, but it will also have lic relations agent, advertisnfarketing company, has its So does this affect us es. Trumai-| Hunt, president economy than about preserv- a huge responsibility to keip ing or graphic designer, or oqrporate headquarters at here? Considering that many and CEO of Nu Skin said, ing historical architecture. those 400 or so new employ- warehouse manager. It may 1§ West Center Street, and are not aware of the new plan "We recognize the great But what about the small ees employed if they want to ev*en be time for Provo to plans to extend into a plaza for Center Street, it seems it potential of this expansion businesses that have been justify the expansion. How- update thakarea oftown and and atrium that will connect may not. But when students project and the important long-time contributors to ever, as students, we hear the stimulate the economy a bit. Provo's personality as well% words "more iobs" and it's a a new corporate buildine to |