Initiative seeks diverse student body

"Conversations About Diversity" was developed this past fall to spread understanding about JMU’s diversity initiative.

Special assistant to JMU’s President Rose, Daniel Wubah facilitated the program to students Tuesday night in Eagle Hall.

Wubah began the program by explaining the diversity initiative at JMU and how it pertains to the student population.

"Two years ago there were 3,200 incoming freshmen, and only 65 of them were African-American," Wubah said. "Out of those 65 African-Americans, only 25 weren’t athletes."

According to Wubah, these statistics instantly triggered some alarms. Rose put together commissions to look at diversity in different aspects of the university. The commission members then had four months to come up with recommendations on how to expand the number of minorities attending JMU.

"Students come to JMU for four years to learn, and according to the mission, be enlightened," Wubah said. "Then they leave and head for different cities. But is JMU an accurate reflection of those cities? Every student will have to interact with many people whom don’t look or don’t act like them, but how will they effectively do that if there is no diversity at JMU?"

As a result of the diversity initiative, JMU saw an increase in the number of minorities applying to JMU this past year. For example, the Office of Admissions saw an increase of 28 percent in the number of African-Americans that applied.

Wubah believes one large problem of why minorities do not attend JMU is socio-economic status. According to Wubah, after looking at FAFSA forms, a large portion of the minorities accepted to JMU could not afford to come.

"We have to lower the financial barrier to bring students who are qualified," Wubah said. "Diversity doesn’t mean lowering our standards, but just helping fully qualified students get here."

Freshman Brittany Horak said she was amazed at how much Wubah and his colleagues are doing to promote the diversity initiative throughout campus. Horak said, "Conversations About Diversity" enabled her to open her eyes to the variety of diversity there is in the world, and how little there is at JMU.

"It was neat the way Dr. Wubah conducted it as a conversation where everyone felt really comfortable talking honestly and being able to ask questions," Horak said.