Ellie Turner
Section 10
Final          

          Ole Miss will forever be scarred by the James Meredith era that impacted civil rights in Mississippi, but the university has been on the road to a more diverse community since then.
          Robin Street, a journalism professor, remembered her dad telling stories he saw first hand of James Meredith being enrolled to the university. She recalled the explanation of riots that left the university in the national news. Her father led Ted Kennedy around the campus after a night of terror to show him the damage.
          It’s hard to believe that there ever was a time like that in America, especially Mississippi. To say that civil rights have come a long way is somewhat an understatement.
          Even though riots are not breaking out all over campus and African Americans walk the campus everyday, there is still progress to be made when it comes to a more diverse community. At the turn of the 21st Century, all types of people came out of the woodwork proud of what they believe in and who they are.
          Perhaps the most recent movement towards diversity is the fact that homosexuals are petitioning the government for equal rights to marriage.
          Though some homosexuals are open and willing to stand in the midst of judgement and, at times, ridicule, one man showed his insecurity when asked if his name could be published in this article. He is a gay nursing student and he has many friends, but he doesn’t feel comfortable letting the world know his sexual orientation.
          “People treat me differently when they know I am gay and they don’t approve,” he said. “It is harder than most would think to be who you are when society as a whole doesn’t accept your choices as normal.”
          Street said that her goal for diversity on the campus is mostly that students will be accepted for who they are and what they choose. Tolerance is the key according to her. Street decided to create Diversity Rocks week, which focused on the different aspects of diversity on campus, because she wants to have a hand in making a more accepting environment. More information is on the Diversity Rocks webpage that can be accessed at http://diversityrocksonline.org.           
          Though there will always be something we can do better, Ole Miss is taking steps in the right direction in order to change the image most people have branded in their minds from our racist past. Black students are being accepted more, but now other minority groups are being neglected. This scenario begs the question: “Will there ever be full tolerance of all minority groups?” According to Kaitlyn DuBose, the answer is probably not.
          “To me, there will always be people grouped by like characteristics that are not socially accepted,” she said. “For instance, with the war in the Middle East, the majority of Americans still treat Muslims like they are outsiders and assume they are all dangerous.”
          Street, along with the anonymous student and DuBose all agree that there will always be room to grow in tolerance of diversity, but as long as Ole Miss is making an effort, the community will be a better place. Maybe one person can sleep better at night knowing that there are others willing to stand up for the acceptance of all people no matter their sexual orientation, physical conditions, race, ethnicity or anything else that make them a diverse person.