MANIFESTO / RESEARCH PROPOSAL
When it comes to diversity in colleges, there are two main issues. The first, which colleges are actively aiming to improve, is simply diversifying the student bodies. The second step is actively working to integrate and educate. Diversification is the first step in creating a fully integrated culture on campus. However, executing this first step properly often creates space for additional issues. As campuses become diversified, rifts tend to arise which undermines the diversification in the first place. As a college student myself, I'm proud to attend a university that has a fairly diverse student body, but I do notice cliques, organizations, and greek life that seem to hinder integration on campus. I do not have an answer to the problem yet, but I will conduct research in search of at least a partial solution.
I plan to focus my research on diversity in greek life. I will research the documented pros and cons of having distinct "white" fraternities and "black" fraternities, I will center my research around the intangible effects of having separate greek lives. I will couple the research of sociologists and psychologists with my research work involving my fellow college students. In doing so, I will utilize the opinions and experiences of peers to hopefully provide the existing conversation about college diversity with insightful input.
Rather than simply surveying students or taking to social media to gather information, I am going to speak with students both individually and in groups. I believe that a fully interactive mode of research will allow me maximize my learning. The interview process will enable me to analyze body language as well as verbal language which I think will be very key. Many people feel uncomfortable talking about race, and by doing just that, I will be able to encounter and assess that issues firsthand.
I plan to focus my research on diversity in greek life. I will research the documented pros and cons of having distinct "white" fraternities and "black" fraternities, I will center my research around the intangible effects of having separate greek lives. I will couple the research of sociologists and psychologists with my research work involving my fellow college students. In doing so, I will utilize the opinions and experiences of peers to hopefully provide the existing conversation about college diversity with insightful input.
Rather than simply surveying students or taking to social media to gather information, I am going to speak with students both individually and in groups. I believe that a fully interactive mode of research will allow me maximize my learning. The interview process will enable me to analyze body language as well as verbal language which I think will be very key. Many people feel uncomfortable talking about race, and by doing just that, I will be able to encounter and assess that issues firsthand.