Platform : Diversity Policy: ‘You Need to Be a Well-Rounded Person’

Since last fall, freshmen at USC have been required to take a diversity course to graduate. While not a separate class requirement, students must take a diversity course within their general education courses or electives. USC is offering 30 such courses, ranging from “North American Indians in Public Life” to “Comparative Studies in Black Culture.” Here’s what some students have to say about the new policy:

SHAUNA CARTER

Biological science student, 18

The new policy allows you to learn about other cultures and not be so ignorant. Most people are ignorant about how other cultures are and there are stereotypes based around other cultures that simply aren’t true. I think this course requirement might give us a chance to really learn the differences between cultures and appreciate them and their uniqueness.

STEVE St. JOHN

Business major, 18

It’s a good idea because, for once, it gives me an opportunity to hear points of view other than the mainstream information from high school. It’s a completely different set of courses. I’m taking “Third World Cities.” It’s something completely new and it’s good for people to be exposed to different cultures, different backgrounds--just different things all together.

CHRIS HELLER

Political science student, 26

I think it’s a bad idea because it starts to divide people. It makes people get into their own cultures instead of venturing out and trying to be exposed to other things. The university is only trying to expose certain groups. They’re trying to satisfy only a few groups. It’s not helping individuals. If you glorify these certain minority groups, the majority won’t have rights. I think we need to be aware of everyone’s culture, but it (the diversity requirement) also messes up the whole idea of assimilation.

AYANNA DAVIS

Political science graduate, 22

The requirement can really help USC. It is a diverse campus but is still predominantely white male. I can see where premed students wouldn’t want to deal with one of these classes. But education is more than what you need for your degree. You need to be a well-rounded person. I didn’t want to take a geography class (that was required) but I ended up learning a lot about our country I didn’t know. I took “Cultural Diversity and the Law.” It focused on cultural rituals, like female circumcision in Kenya. In the West, women have different rights but (circumcision) is their right, their ritual. We can’t just overpower other cultures. (The class) made me more open-minded. Most of the people who were rebellious in class were close-minded, stuck in the American Western way.

ARACKS MIRZAYAN

Vocal arts student, 18

It’s a good idea (to take diversity courses) because we live in a society that is multicultural, and it’s very important for each of us to learn things about other cultures so we can get along better. It will eliminate our racism and allow us to judge each other by our human qualities. The only way that people can learn about other cultures is through education. At USC, there are many people from other parts of the world; for us to get along, we have to know something about their traditions.

DARIUS VAHABZADEH

Civil engineering student, 21

Diversity is something you pick up over a lifetime, and one course isn’t really going to change anyone’s opinion of a race in the long run. Overall, I think it’s a waste. It should be an option. Some people have their priorities straight and they respect all races to begin with. You’d never make people change with just a class.

PETE BAGHDASSARIAN

Business student, 18

Diversity is good to have because when you take basic general-education courses like mathematics, you don’t really get the whole university experience. When you come to college, it’s much different from high-school life--there are many more people with different attitudes and lifestyles and from other nations. Having a course like this really helps you situate into university life.

CHRIS PAPAZIAN

Political science, computer science student, 21

I don’t think it’s a good idea. I believe that culture and stuff should come from the family, not from the school. They shouldn’t force it on you. I think it’s just ridiculous to teach a culture that people are not accustomed to and don’t need to be accustomed to. I didn’t get much out of the “Studies in Women and Men in Society” class. It looked at how women have been oppressed by men. I went to military school and have always respected women.