1. Diversity

2. Your Turn
Look around at your classroom. What kinds of diversity do you see? What other kinds of diversity might exist but can’t be seen? Discuss why some college students have an interest in diversity, both seen and unseen, and why other students avoid the topic.

3. Understanding Diversity and the Source of Our Beliefs
variations in social and cultural identities among people living together
Multiculturalism:
the active process of acknowledging and respecting the diverse social groups, cultures, religions, races, ethnicities, attitudes, and opinions within a community

4. Understanding Diversity and the Source of Our Beliefs (continued)
Many of our beliefs stem from personal experience and reinforcement.
Negative experiences or incidents involving members of a particular group may lead to development of stereotypes.
Tolerance is generally a good idea.
Your college campus may be your first experience of diversity.

5. Your Turn
Think back to the earliest messages you received from family members about how you should react to people who are different from you. Which messages still affect your behavior? Which messages have you revised?

6. Ethnicity, Culture, Race, and Religion
Ethnicity: affiliation assigned to a group of people with common national heritage or language.
Culture: aspects of a group of people that are passed on or learned
Race: refers to biological characteristics shared by groups.
Religion: central to the American experience since the first settlers arrived
Age diversity provides an opportunity for students to learn from those with different life experiences.
Learning and physical abilities
Gender
Sexuality
Economic status

7. Your Turn
Brainstorm in a small group how you might meet some older people on campus or in your community. Plan to meet and interview an older person about his or her experiences in college or in life after college, and write about the meeting.

8. Your Turn
Make a list of careers or occupations that you are considering. Would anyone try to tell you that one or more of them are “inappropriate” because you are male or female? Write a persuasive statement that you could use to argue that gender should not narrow life choices or options.

9. Seeking Diversity on Campus
The curriculum
Student-run organizations
Fraternities and sororities
Career/major groups
Political/activist organizations
Special-interest groups

10. Discrimination, Prejudice, and Insensitivity on College Campuses
Raising awareness
Campus resources and centers provide acknowledgment of and support to the diverse student population
Establish of policies against any and all forms of discriminatory actions, racism, and insensitivity
What you can do to fight hate on campus
Will you do something about it, or do you think it is someone else’s problem?
Work with existing campus services

11. Discrimination, Prejudice, and Insensitivity on College Campuses (continued)
Challenge yourself to experience diversity
Diversity enriches us all
Challenge yourself to learn about various groups in and around your community
Gives you an opportunity to develop skills to function in a variety of settings
Can also be gratifying
Helps you become a more educated person

12. Your Turn
Think back on your life. Can you recall an occasion when you were harassed for any reason or when you witnessed harassment? Discuss the event with a classmate, how it made you feel, and how you reacted.

13. Tech Tip: The Case For Volunteering
Volunteering will help build your résumé, explore career options, and broaden your horizons.
You’ll get to go to interesting places and do important work
You’ll learn to appreciate diversity
You might get to travel internationally
You’ll gain valuable experience that could help you in your career
Will help you become a happier, more fascinating, and less self-absorbed person
Employers say applicants who volunteer stand out