By Samantha Flavell
Oswego County Today intern
OSWEGO – The incoming SUNY Oswego freshman class of 2021 broke the record for diversity for what is now the third consecutive year.
“34.5%, new diverse freshman,” Dean of Students, Jerri Howland said. “So that’s roughly 500 or 511 but it’s unofficial that is of 8/31.”
The percentage given was unofficial because the official data is released with the census data, according to Howland.
Students who are considered to be under the umbrella of diversity include SUNY Oswego’s African American, Asian, Hispanic, Multi-racial, Native American and Pacific Islander students.
The data is gathered based upon how students self-identify in surveys.
“I am a Sephardic Jew which means my family comes from Spain. I would describe myself as a white Hispanic,” Sarah Allegra Nehama A SUNY freshman said, “During the tour [of SUNY Oswego] they did mention how diverse Oswego was which I liked. I think diversity is important because you meet people with different views and family histories.”
Though in terms of statistical data, international students and diverse students of SUNY Oswego are counted in separate categories, the idea of inclusivity and community applies to both.
SUNY Oswego incorporates multiple programs and campaigns to accomplish this.
Eusebio Van Reenen, also known as Omar finished his freshman year in May of 2017.
“As an international student from Namibia, Africa, I have absolutely no regrets choosing SUNY, choosing Oswego State,” Van Reenen said. “Stepping onto this campus I was surrounded with an environment that fosters inclusivity, and not once was I pushed to the side and not given the equal opportunity to thrive as my American peers.”
The Oswego campus includes environments such as Hart Hall which is specifically designed to focus on cultural exploration and celebration.
According to Hart Hall hall director Brian Gordinier, there are currently 136 freshmen in Hart for the Fall 2017 semester, meaning that roughly 40% of the building is made up of freshman.
“For many international students, coming to America to further their education is a major life goal setting them up for success in America or back in their home countries,” Gordinier said. “They often pick SUNY Oswego because of our phenomenal International, Multicultural and Diversity programs we offer.”
For students to thrive during their college years they must feel included and welcome.
Oswego is hoping that by offering intentional programming to foster this community and to focus on things such as international education.
That students will therefore be better equipped to understand and more efficiently communicate with those around them.
Education is not the only effort.
I am Oz is a multi-tier campaign that SUNY Oswego has been running since 2014.
What began as a Martin Luther King celebration turned into an annual celebration of the diversity of the campus in hopes of fostering the love and appreciation of those around us and in our communities.
One of the main faces of I am Oz includes the I am Oz posters which can be seen around campus each month.
The posters follow the Federal heritage months classification and are distributed across campus displaying the face and academic information about a SUNY Oswego student or faculty member that identifies as that month’s heritage classification.
“I think that representation and a visibility matters to the community,” Howland said. “It does help with people once they get here and they see it. We want to make sure that we value every member of the community and during those months we celebrate our campus diversity.”
“Diversity is an uphill climb. We see diversity increasing around us and as an institution SUNY Oswego hopes to use its ever-increasing diversity to convey this sense of family and community. Interactions with those different from us is what makes people grow,” Howland added.
Howland continually expressed that it is not that the school is lowering its standards, but instead are ensuring that the incoming freshman are both highly qualified as well as diverse students.
“I think that diversity is important to everybody, every student on this campus. And every faculty member on this campus,” Howland said. “Because it adds to the what I call the thread, the depth, the feelings the understanding of what it means to be American.”
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Diversity is racism. Preference is given to people based upon race over merit. The law, and college admission, should be color blind.