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UCLA diversity myth shattered by growing ethnic division

By Daily Bruin Staff

June 9, 1996 9:00 p.m.

Sunday, June 9, 1996

My orientation group was walking between Royce and Powell on a
scorching summer day when I first heard that line.

"UCLA boasts one of the most diverse student populations among
college campuses in the United States," said my orientation
counselor, somewhat robotically. She spent the rest of the two hour
campus tour spouting off similar praises, telling wild tales of
Bunche Hall being turned around by helicopters and pointing out a
certain statue in URL (I’m sure most of you will know which one I’m
talking about).

My first reaction to this statement on diversity was, "why is
she trying to ‘sell’ the school to me when I’ve already decided to
go to UCLA?" After some thought, I figured that she was just
repeating part of the script for the tour.

Despite my initial cynical reaction, however, I knew that I had
pretty much "bought" the product months before freshmen
orientation.

I went to a high school that was predominantly Caucasian. I was
always aware that I was part of a minority group on campus, but my
Chinese-American background never affected my ability to make
friends with people from different ethnic backgrounds.

I generally had a good experience in high school, but I always
felt that something was missing ­ my cultural and ethnic
identity. It was hard to develop this kind of thing when most of my
peers didn’t share the same experiences outside of school.

I remember one friend talking about the dangers of becoming
"whitewashed." He saw most of his Asian-American friends as "buying
into the system." Of course, this guy was also the one who was
wearing the flashy clothes and bought just about everything his
credit cards could handle.

Nevertheless, UCLA’s diverse student body played a part in my
decision to enroll here. I felt that going to a college where I
would be able to meet more people from different backgrounds would
help me to learn more about my own and others’ ethnicities and
cultures. I also assumed that once at UCLA, I would have a racially
mixed group of friends. Maybe I was naive, but I felt that if a
diverse group of friends had been attainable at my high school,
then it could certainly happen at UCLA.

However, after four years as a Bruin, all I can say is that I’m
glad I didn’t just come here for the so-called "student
diversity."

Before coming to UCLA, I felt that a diverse student population
would inevitably lead to more interaction and understanding between
members of all ethnic groups. Because of the sheer number of
students, I thought I would naturally be more likely to meet and
become friends with people outside of my own ethnic group.

Instead I found completely the opposite. Students tended to
socialize and form friendships with students that shared a similar
ethnic background.

Some have carried this to the extreme by choosing ONLY to be
around people of their own ethnicity.

I’m pretty sure this trend does not exist because everyone is
overtly prejudiced against people of other ethnic groups. This
pattern continues for different reasons.

Many people find it easier to instantly identify with people of
their own ethnic background. At a friend’s party where you are
constantly being introduced to strangers, you are more likely to
try and converse with someone of a similar ethnicity, merely
because you already have that point in common.

Some people feel that you can’t truly be a member of your ethnic
group unless the majority of the people you associate with are from
the same group. I have been told several times that I am "in danger
of losing my Asian-ness" by hanging out with non-Asian
students.

However most people aren’t that bold ­ they show their
disapproval in more subtle ways.

I was once asked by one of my Asian-American friends who I would
be living with the next year. I gave out two Christian names and
she asked me if they were Asian. I said, "No." She hesitated,
frowned slightly, and said, "Oh."

Over the past four years, I’ve slowly realized just how racially
and ethnically segregated UCLA’s student body is.

Divisions on political issues seemed to have fueled hatred
between student groups. Our student government continues to submit
articles to The Bruin explaining what they do and asking for
respect. Student leaders have to realize that they must behave in a
more mature manner if they want the student body’s respect. The
incessant name-calling in the "war of representation" waged between
the two major slates only serves to further the widespread belief
that student government doesn’t do anything.

What’s the solution to this mess? Students of all different
backgrounds must try to understand each other and work together.
The concept is that simple. I don’t have a master plan; I’ve been
busy trying to figure out my own master plan for my life after
UCLA.

One thing I do know, however, is that diversity on campus isn’t
worth a whole lot if there’s division along ethnic lines. Until
that changes, I think orientation counselors should take out that
line about diversity on campus and start telling different tall
tales.

Lin is a graduating political science student. He was a
1995-1996 copy editor.

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