ALEXANDRA BODE Staff Reporter Butler University welcomed a record-breaking class last weekend. It was not size, but the group’s diversity which put it in the school’s history books. The class of 2017 is the most ethnically and geographically diverse freshman class to date. Of the 1,025 new students, 14.4 percent label themselves as “multicultural,”…
Butler must add diversity
On Jan. 19, Tavis Smiley and Cornel West gave a speech at Clowes Memorial Hall about the dangers of income inequality. “[I]t shows our dedication to diversifying our university,” President Jim Danko said of the event. The speakers showed the nation that Butler is a university that strives for diversity. I, for one, am very…
Butler officials make push to diversify the student body
Butler University’s goal of diversity is appreciated by students but is not as recognizable on campus as the administration thinks it should be. The Taste of Diversity dinner was held last week and encouraged students to “dive into Butler’s diversity.” The gathering featured a variety of international foods, including Indian, Thai, Moroccan, Mexican, Dominican and…
Students: Butler not diverse
About 51 percent of students disagree that Butler University is diverse, according to results from a new survey by Student Affairs. About 37 percent somewhat disagreed that Butler is diverse, and 14 percent strongly disagreed with that statement. The survey gauged Butler’s diversity and students’ perspective on campus atmosphere. There were 527 students who participated…
OPINION | Diversity, inclusion must be everyone’s priority
On April 18, Butler University’s Office of Student Affairs released the numbers from its diversity survey. The data revealed that most Butler students do not believe the school is very diverse. Specifically, 71 percent of students of color and/or gay and lesbian students thought this. If students, faculty and staff want to see a more…
Spot open on SGA exec board
Next year’s team of seven executives in Student Government Association is almost complete, but President-elect Mike Keller is still looking for one more. The SGA vice president of diversity position, one of six vice presidential positions, remains vacant because no one has applied. While the position remains empty, the remaining vice presidential positions and parliamentarian…
OPINION | GHS offers cultural enrichment, should be priority
Butler University prides itself on its liberal arts pedigree. College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Dean Jay Howard writes an email every month titled “Liberal Arts Matters.” I agree wholeheartedly. But if the university makes this a priority, it needs to ensure that global and historical studies courses continue to be available for students and…
Multicultural enrollment could strain diversity programs
Student groups at Butler University said they’re going to work harder to protect diversity in their organizations in light of the lower freshman multicultural enrollment this year. “It is absolutely imperative that student organizations reach across the table and work with each other,” Caitlin Jackson, president of Demia Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance, said. Should the…
Multicultural enrollment below US average
After dropping more than 1 percent in a year, multicultural student enrollment at Butler University is one-third the national rate at other private, four-year, not-for-profit institutions. Multicultural students—African-Americans, Native Americans, Asian-Americans and other non-Caucasian students—make up 11.3 percent of Butler’s population, down from 12.4 percent last year. On average, multicultural students made up 31.9 percent…