The initial results of a survey conducted to evaluate the climate for minority students on campus showed about 400 respondents felt personally harassed.

Sue Rankin, senior research associate at Rankin and Associates Consulting, said at a forum Thursday that more than 20 percent of people who responded to the survey had personally experienced harassment of some kind.

But, she said, Iowa State is unique compared to other universities that have had similar surveys conducted.

“The unique thing about Iowa State is that you’re actually doing something about it,” Rankin said.

Rankin said about 1,930 people responded to the survey. Initial results showed that 77 percent of respondents felt “comfortable” with the climate of diversity at Iowa State. She said 54 percent of students and faculty felt the climate was comfortable for underrepresented populations.

She said it is important to remember that minorities include more than ethnic and racial groups, and the university should focus on social justice more than diversity.

The survey, conducted in January, was performed by Rankin and Associates Consulting, a group that has conducted surveys on more than 50 other college campuses.

The President’s Advisory Committee on Diversity contracted Rankin and asked her to evaluate the climate at Iowa State, present the findings to a committee and give suggestions for improving the climate.

Rankin said the survey over-sampled the underrepresented populations and gave everyone who wasn’t “white” a survey. The survey was also given to students with disabilities and members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered population.

The open forum audience asked questions about the survey results and offered their opinions on how to improve the climate.

Erin Hughes, sophomore in anthropology, said because so many students are coming to Iowa State from other communities where there is little diversity, it creates a challenge for the university.

Rankin, who had some suggestions for improving the climate, will present formal suggestions with the final results near the end of October.

The university will then use the results to work toward improving the campus climate.

“I’m very happy to hear that Iowa State is doing something with this,” Hughes said. But, she said, it is important that the process remain open to the students and faculty.

In her initial suggestions, Rankin said the university should offer multicultural awareness training to all faculty, staff and administrators.

But, Rankin said, even if the university uses all her suggestions, change won’t happen overnight.

She said the school can expect to “measure change with a sundial.”

Sue Rankin, senior research associate at Rankin and Associates Consulting, released the initial results of the Campus Climate Survey:

• 57.8 percent of student respondents felt they have been racially profiled.
• 50 percent of white people observed harassment based on race or ethnicity.
• 47 percent of people of color observed harassment based on race or ethnicity.
• More females than males observed harassment based on race or ethnicity.
• 47 percent of white students responded they have felt uncomfortable “very often” asking professors of color for help.
• 35 percent of students of color responded they have felt uncomfortable “very often” asking white professors for help.