Diversity at NDSU
Of the 12,258 students who attended NDSU in 2006, 89 percent were white, 6 percent were African American and 1 percent was American Indian/Alaskan, Asian, Hispanic and International, according to www.ndsu.edu/equal_opportunity.
For the 7 percent of students who aren’t in the majority, NDSU has taken steps to help introduce these students to others like them.
NDSU has also established a number of organizations, groups and classes to help students understand all the different cultures present on campus.
Malika Carter, assistant director at the Multicultural Student Services Department, assisted in forming the group Sisterhood Circle, to help women of color at NDSU.
“I noticed that there was not a vehicle for women of color to express themselves,” Carter said. “There are many times on campus where there are trust issues that occur between the larger community and the smaller community of people of color, and I wanted to address particularly women of color.”
Carter said the Sisterhood Circle was formed so women of color and their allies have an opportunity to discuss various topics in a supportive environment.
“These women can reflect on the issues, share their experiences, listen to each other’s experiences and think of ways to improve their lives and the community around them,” Carter said.
Carter said although she doesn’t see blatant racism as a problem at NDSU, subtle racism is still a major problem in society.
The Sisterhood Circle was not set up as a place for women to complain, Carter said, but to get together and discuss the health of our community.
“The Sisterhood Circle has ranged anywhere from two people when it just began, all the way up to 15 people,” Carter said. “I’m expecting it to grow but it will take some time to build some momentum and bring in other people.”
It’s especially important that students know the Sisterhood Circle is not only for women of color, but also their allies as well, Carter said.
“These allies need to show up equipped to find out how we can help them and how they can help us,” Carter said.
Carter said if a more serious topic arises during the meeting she always suggests group participants submit an NDSU Bias, Bigotry and Hate Response Form, which can be found at www.ndsu.edu/biasreport.
The NDSU Bias Report was formed by the Diversity Council and is a place where students can respond anonymously to crimes of hate that have happened to them, Carter said.
“I encourage them to report these things themselves,” Carter said. “It (the report) goes to The Office of Equity and Diversity and is then brought up to an anti-racism team called TOCAR, which stands for: Training Our Campuses Against Racism.
TOCAR consists of faculty, student and staff representatives from MSUM, Concordia College, North Dakota State University and Northwest Technical College, according to www.ndsu.edu/diversity.
The organization supports not only people of color but also groups such as LGTBQ, (Gay, Lesbian, Transvestite, Bisexual and Questioning) and disabled students.
TOCAR seeks to enhance campus climate and promote equal opportunity by not only advancing multicultural understanding and competence but also confronting ethnic/racial prejudice, discrimination and institutional racism, according to www.ndsu.edu/diversity
“I think the cooperation of all these groups helps prevent racism and discrimination on our campus,” Carter said.