Running head: Multicultural Environments

Multicultural Environments
Kirstie Harsha
Georgia Southern University
COUN 7132: Contemporary College Student
December 8, 2014

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Multicultural Environments
Institutions have embraced multicultural students and environments within their
campuses more so over the past few decades. Miriam Websters dictionary defines multicultural
as of, relating to, reflecting, or adapted to diverse cultures. In the college/university setting, this
refers to ethnicities, nationalities, genders, sexual orientation, and status of the students on their
campus. Embracing of multicultural students and environments allows for a more open minded
campus experience. Students began experiencing multicultural environments for the first time
when schools became integrated. Multicultural experiences have both pros and cons to the way it
affects society.

Pros of Multicultural Environments

Having multicultural environments help to extinguish fear, prejudice, racism, and
stereotyping on college campuses and around the world. Some students have been isolated from
other cultures before attending college. This can bring fear to those students who have not
experienced another culture because of the unknown. As the cultures begin to mix, students start
to understand each other and no longer fear or misunderstand other ethnicities, nationalities,
genders, and sexualities. Having a multicultural environment gives students a sense of open
mindedness and freedom to make friends with people who are different than they are. Using
Georgia Southern University as a sample college, there are students who report ethnicities of
American Indian or Alaskan Native, Asian/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, Black or African
American, Hispanic/Latino, White, and those of two or more races. As understanding of different

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cultures and ways of life has evolved, there has been a mixing of races, ethnicities, and social
classes in marriages and children. As practitioners in higher education, we must try to make
develop more pros to multicultural environments.

Cons of Multicultural Environments

The expansion of multicultural environments has changed the way that culture has been
taught and studied to students in the United States of America. Multicultural education teaches
students to be color blind to differences in nationalities and ethnicities. The teaching of being
multicultural helps to ensure equality for all students. Over time, multicultural education may
have unplanned for and undesired consequences. The focus on race in various trials across the
county has ignited controversy and divisiveness between races and ethnicities. In the case of
Michael Brown, a white officer shot a black teenager in a confrontation. This has sparked
thoughts of racism and stereotypes across the entire country. Race has been the primary focus
speculation in the events following the death of Michael Brown. Because the police officer was
not indicted on murder charges, cities across the United States have protested. The same can be
seen in the O.J. Simpson trial that took place in the 1990s. While multicultural environments
have some down falls, practitioners must put aside the cons and move forward in a positive
diresction.

Benefits of Multicultural Environments

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Although multicultural environments have pros and cons, there are benefits that
have come from its teachings. The study of multicultural environments has brought those of
different nationalities, ethnicities, sexual orientations, and social classes together in harmony (for
the most part). A huge amount of progress can be seen in the United States since the integration
of the school systems. Multicultural environments build interactions between diverse cultures.
Research indicates that ethnic students are inexplicably poor, being expelled or suspended, and fail
to achieve their potential. Consequently, both teachers and students need to prepare themselves for
the challenge of communicating and interacting with diverse races (Benefits of Multicultural
Education, para 4). The interaction between cultures has also created tolerance for one another.
Students have developed understanding of those of different cultures and have been able to work
together in peace. Lastly, multicultural environments have abolished cultural barriers. It seeks to
help students acquire skills and positive attitude to negotiate, communicate and interact with
individuals from diverse cultures to create a moral and civic community (Benefits of Multicultural
Environments, para 6). The benefits of multicultural environments continue to grow as more
cultures begin to interact together.

Safe Zones
A Safe Zone is a place where one can feel free to talk about being lesbian, gay, bisexual,
transgender, queer, questioning, allied, asexual or intersex without fear of criticism or hatred. It is
a place where one can feel not only supported, but affirmed and valued. Having safe zones
allows those working to be safe in their thoughts. Georgia Southern University has adopted the
safe zone policy in all departments on its campus. There is a safe zone sticker posted in all
building so that everyone feels welcome and safe. This policy has helped to stop bullying and
hatred of those who are not heterosexual. As practitioners, we must create a safe zone for our co-

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workers and students. When people do not feel safe, the interaction between different cultures
begins to change in a negative way.

Departments Dedicated to Multicultural Experiences

From my studies of the many departments in higher education, I was able to choose two
departments that are located on Georgia Southern Universitys campus that I can relate our
studies to best. Through the DANE training program for all Student Affairs and Enrollment
Management employees, I have been able to network and learn about the various departments in
the division.

Student Activities
The Office of Student Activities supports the mission of Georgia Southern University by
providing and enhancing diverse involvement opportunities beyond the classroom. In a studentcentered and engaging environment, we empower students to lead themselves and others through
experiential learning (Office of Student Activities, para 1). Georgia Southern University has
almost 300 clubs and organizations on its campus that live up to this mission. The Office of
Student Activities wants to transform campus life, connecting every Eagle to every Eagle. The
Office of Student Activities offer clubs/organizations for every ethnicity, religion, nationality,
and sexual orientation. Of course there are specific clubs for specific qualities, but for the most
part, the clubs and organizations provided allow for multicultural interaction between students,
faculty, and staff members. There is a club/organization for every student, ranging in all shapes

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and sizes. The multicultural environment at Georgia Southern University has the chance to grow
once a year when students have the ability to start new organizations.

Admissions
The Office of Admissions at Georgia Southern University is committed to having a
multicultural environment on its campus. Georgia Southern is recognized world-wide for
offering students a superior university education taught by exceptional and caring faculty
(International Students, para 2). There are currently international students enrolled that represent
over 100 countries around the world. Asmaa Mansour is a graduate student that works in the
Office of Admissions. She is a native of Egypt and was recruited to study at Georgia Southern
University in the graduate studies program. She brings a more diverse culture to the many other
ethnicities in the Office of Admissions. Georgia Southern University also has a recruiter for
Hispanic, potential students. Ms. Alba Cobos is an Assistant Director in Student Affairs. She
travels much like the other territory recruiters except she travels all over Georgia to help those
Hispanic students in need. Before this position was created, there was no specific person to help
those who speak Spanish. Since she started this position 2 years ago, she has seen a dramatic
increase in Hispanic students.

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References
Benefits of Multicultural Education. (n.d.). Retrieved November 30, 2014, from
http://benefitof.net/benefits-of-multicultural-education/.
Georgia Southern University. (n.d.). Retrieved November 30, 2014, from
http://www.forbes.com/colleges/georgia-southern-university/.
International Students | Undergraduate Admissions. (n.d.). Retrieved November 30, 2014,
from http://admissions.georgiasouthern.edu/requirements/international/.
Multicultural. (n.d.). Retrieved November 30, 2014, from http://www.merriamwebster.com/dictionary/multicultural.
Multicultural Education. (n.d.). Retrieved December 7, 2014, from
http://www.edchange.org/multicultural/papers/keith.html.
Multicultural Education. (n.d.). Retrieved November 30, 2014, from
http://www.edchange.org/multicultural/papers/keith.html.