Diversity in the Dorms

Court Burlingame

Jour 102

Final Project

May 11, 2011

Ole Miss’ New Generation

The University of Mississippi has long been known for its complete lack of tolerance and racial diversity. For the better part of its existence, the University has managed to maintain this image with the rest of the country. Ole Miss officials, however, are quickly attempting to overhaul this notion, and the first place to start is with the freshmen in the dorms.

Whenever a list of the top colleges and universities for diversity and acceptance is released, Ole Miss is never anywhere near the top. It is no surprise that a school such as Ole Miss, which up until recently would fly Confederate flags at football games, would have this image. Ole Miss, however, is not as segregated as many would believe.

Igor Zlatojev, who hails from Serbia and can frequently be heard chatting in his native tongue, is an RA at the Brown Residence Hall. He, like many RA’s, is someone who is of a substantially different background from the majority of Ole Miss students. This difference does not alienate him; it provides him an opportunity to reach out to those of different cultures from his own.

“As an RA here in the dorms, I’ve been able to see students of different races and backgrounds come together over the course of the year,” said Zlatojev. “This place isn’t nearly as segregated as people think it to be.”

Zlatojev is but one of the many examples of diversity in the dorms. Anywhere you look, you will be able to find students of different cultures mixing together, defying the University’s typical characterization.

Upon visiting any of the dorms, you would be hard pressed to find some sort of segregation. Whether students are studying, partying, or simply hanging out, they are reaching out to people of different races, cultures, and creeds.

“I’ve definitely made friends with people who I normally wouldn’t socialize with,” said freshman Caroline Cook, who lives in the Martin Residence Hall. “Just through meeting some girls on my floor and other people around campus, I think I’ve really stepped out of my comfort zone. Some of these people are great friends of mine who I will remember forever.

This sense of camaraderie can be seen almost anywhere on campus. In a sharp departure from the ways of the past, students are being encouraged to reach out, whether it’s in the Greek Life, athletics, student –run organizations, or even in the classrooms.

As Ole Miss steps further into the 21^st century, it is essential for us to break with the “traditions” and ideals of the past, in order to live up to our full potential. Simply changing our mascot or hosting a Diversity Week does not accomplish this goal.

By promoting a nurturing, integrated living environment in the dorms, we are able to encourage students to reach across racial boundaries. With each new generation of incoming freshman, Ole Miss is slowly but surely doing away with the image of its past and embracing a new, more progressive image of its future.

Here's a link to Ole Miss' Diversity Rocks website: http://diversityrocksonline.org/