The recent discussion in this paper about the greek system has produced some of the most interesting dialogue I have seen in a long while. In truth, a lot of the responses from fraternity and/or sorority members have contained statements that would really belong better in a stand-up comedy act than in a letter to the editor.

My favorite one had to be from a guy who asserts that the fact that none of his frat brothers is from Nebraska, his home state, is a clear sign of the diversity in his fraternity. Now, that statement made clear to me something very interesting – we’re in a lot of trouble. When we get to the point where a college educated individual sits down and composes a letter in which he makes a statement like that, that’s a sign that there is a lot wrong with the perception of diversity in our society.

The third annual Iowa State Conference on Race and Ethnicity (ISCORE), which was held last week, is a good example of what I consider to be one of the major problems of the “diversity movement.” To put it simply, far too much talk. For all of the talking we do – the seminars, the rallies, the books written, all the discussions we have about diversity – where have we really gotten? I’m not talking about cosmetic diversity, the kind that comes from things like affirmative action, but real, concrete change.

Take, for example, the greek system itself. I’ll bet you if you were to ask what the statistics are for African-American greek members, the answer you’ll get would probably seem to make sense in terms of the relative percentage of black students at Iowa State. What you might not hear is the fact that the majority of African-American greek members are in historically black fraternities. And yet most greeks would extol to high heaven the virtuosity of the greek system in supporting diversity. They’ll talk about having seminars and workshops and print all kinds of cool brochures. But like it or not the majority of the greek system is comprised of suburban-raised, middle to upper-middle-class white kids.

Another interesting aspect of this issue that is all too common is the concept of the diversity or minority leader. For example, there are some who believe that a funky hairstyle, a moustache and the ability to orate like a Southern Baptist minister is all that is necessary to be considered a leader in the African-American community. Take, for instance, people like Rev. Al Sharpton and Rev. Jesse Jackson. Both men are typical politicians who talk a good game, but have really yet to do anything that qualifies as truly innovative in minority affairs.

They seem more concerned with trying to be the poor man’s Martin Luther King than actually doing anything of any real consequence. They stage their marches and summits and form coalitions and movements, but what little they have done has been directed less at achieving a society that is truly aware and accepting of its diversity, and more at trying to raise their own profile and offer themselves as heirs to the “throne” of Dr. King, in hopes that that might get them the votes they need to win elections.

When the tragedy occurred at Northwestern University this summer, where a football player died after collapsing during practice, of course, Jesse Jackson was there to insinuate himself into the situation, pointing fingers left and right and making all these accusations on an issue in which he clearly has absolutely no expertise.

But let’s not forget my personal favorite, Minister Louis Farrakhan – a man who in my opinion is a racist black separatist, essentially an African-American version of David Duke. And yet, every time I mention Colin Powell to any of my African-American friends, he is immediately labeled a “sell-out.”

One of the most thought provoking commentaries I have seen is the 1967 movie “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner,” starring Sidney Poitier and Katherine Hepburn. The movie tells of a dinner party given by the parents of a young white girl to meet her new fianc‚. What they had originally believed to be their own liberal views are severely challenged by this requisite new level of open mindedness. The groom’s parents are just as unsettled by the idea of diversity hitting all too close to home, as it were. The movie is a comedy, but one whose subject matter is really not all that funny. It may have been set in the `60s, but the idea of selective open mindedness is likely just as common today as it was then. The only really clear change is that we talk more about diversity issues, but what really happens when you have to know someone of another race, not just as your friend or classmate, but as your brother or sister in-law, your aunt or uncle, your niece or nephew?

The idea of diversity has become about finding measures by which we can make things seem great on the surface, with all the talk and “dialogue.” In reality, often we only succeed in conjuring up false pretenses to pat ourselves on the back.

So I challenge each and every person of my generation to shut up, quit yapping and take the fight against prejudice inside yourselves, where it belongs and is most effective. Bring it with you every time you meet someone who seems nothing like yourself.

And to my friend, who considers a deficiency of Husker fans to be a true sign of diversity, you really need to get out more.

Emeka Anyanwu is a senior in electrical engineering from Ames.