FIGHT FOR WHAT’S RIGHT

Peter IssoChoice Story

Prof. Dickerson5/4/12

• It is estimated that as an increase of diversity continues to occur at Michigan State University, the number of hate crimes to the students that make up our diverse student body will rise due to past and current relationships with other countries that most diverse students are from.

• "I can definitely see how an increase in diversity can lead to an increase in hate,” said Brian Crampton, a student at Michigan State University. "Times are rough and I’m sure it aggravates others that students not even from the US show up out of nowhere and driver nicer cars than us," said Crampton.

• In the fall of 2010, the MSU came out to a total of 47,131 students, from all 83 counties in Michigan, all 50 states in the United States, and 130 other countries with percentages of 16.2 percent students of color and 11.4 percent international students.

• Julio Hernandez, a Mexican-American student at MSU, sees diversity from a completely different perspective.

• "Racism is never something that a group of people resort to because they are confused by the different types of culture they are surrounded by," said Hernandez. "For those who were unaware or somehow forgot, America is the land of opportunity."

• MSU is the leader in study abroad in the United States and is one of five public universities in the nation that rank in the top 10 for both study abroad and international student enrollment.

• Aaron Brown, 22 of Port Huron, Michigan, thinks that diversity can be a beautiful thing while having its negatives as well.

• "Big student bodies of diversity are a beautiful thing, however, with diversity comes differences and with differences comes conflict,” said Brown, a Pre-Med student at MSU.

• Jaime Enrique Durán, 21, thinks that an increase in diversity should lead to an increase in more of a socially-engaging and friendly behavior.

• "I don’t understand why a negative uprising would be any type of solution, more relationships as friends to learn more about each other should be happening," said Durán, a student at MSU.

• Bridget Meyer, also a student at MSU, hates the idea of hate, however, acknowledges that it’s just one of those things that nobody will ever be able to get rid of.

• "Hate is just one of those ugly things that will never go away,” said Meyer. "Diversity is a beautiful thing and can come with many added benefits if shown with respect, the proper way.”