To the editor:

I would like to comment on the article that was in the March 22 Daily.

The article was about how Iowa State is below it’s quota for minority students. The reason this caught my attention was that I am a minority student. We haven’t shown the students here that we can be a diverse university, so how can we ask other students to come join us?

As a member of the STARS program, I have felt alone. We have just recently gained more minority members. When I looked at all of the student panels I have been on, there were barely any minority members. This year I was not allowed to participate on the panels, but I am comforted by the thought that there is another minority student there to take my place.

When we go to the preview programs, how many minority students actually go? When the students come to visit the school, where are the minority students hiding?

Of all the tours I have given, I didn’t have many minority students. I myself was hesitant to come here because of the lack of minority students.

Maybe it wasn’t even the lack of minority students, but more of a lack of enthusiasm from the students here. One example is the exclusion of activities for international students at Veishea.

They were just recently thought of. Also, our university focuses on the Hispanic and African-American population. Do you not see the untouched group of Asian students waiting for an offer?

How do we expect minority students to come here when many of the ones who do go here do not feel as if they belong?

I think half the time a lot of the Asian students feel alienated as well because many professors think that we are international students. This university prides itself on diversity, yet how diverse are we really? We don’t even have an Asian studies program here!

To me, this is an outrageous comment. To open the door to minorities, you must first try to understand where they are coming from; otherwise it’s all talk.

This is just a personal opinion, but one I’m sure that many other students also feel. The university needs to try to be more open to the different lifestyles of the many different people who go to school here.

Sarah Yun

Junior

Sociology