My Freshman Year ix-89

Hello hello!
I guess I'll start out like this about the topic at hand. (The topic being: three things that might define CMU's unique culture). Diversity. This may start out as a tangent, but bear with me. I promise I have a point. I know that affirmative action was put into usage in a means to diversify all colleges across the U.S. To be honest, I'm not for affirmative action because I believe that diversity is so much more than color. It's about really sharing one's own culture and learning from others. I found it extremely interesting how Rebekah Nathan did a study when she was eating, just watching how different racial backgrounds interacted. She alluded to the idea how race was a problem in this university by saying, "...race or ethnicity is typically ignored as a topic of conversation...treated as an invisible issue and with silence" (60). I know that racism exists today but isn't as prominent in society anymore. However, on this campus I truly believe that this racism (in this context, Nathan is referring to how certain races tend to 'merge' together) doesn't exist. Maybe it's a stretch to say that because I know that certain clubs that has a race in their title sometimes creates these racial 'cliques.' However, in my personal life, my eyes don't see color but instead a person. A person I can learn from. I truly believe that CMU values this relationship.

I hope I haven't lost anyone yet, because there are two more points! I really find that CMU's culture is so different in the diversity aspect as well as the way the CMU's campus life is. CMU has a way of chalking every event on the side walks. I find it fun. There are always stands about different clubs outside of the UC or Doherty Hall. This is, well to me, awesome. It shows the sense of strong community that CMU values. CMU values its students to get involved with the campus. The social activities wrote on sidewalks further show how students can get involved in and out of campus. It keeps students informed in an unconventional and fun way. This atmosphere, at least for me, gives me a sense of activity and provides an excuse to never be bored. Nathan didn't talk too much about the social bonding and community of the college itself as much as she did about her dorm specifically. Since she emphasized the dorm community more, I shall too. I found it hilarious how in her college practically no one would attend floor meetings (50). My floor love each others company and really are good friends. We attend each floor meeting. During orientation week, we all contributed to what we expected from one another... such like respect and communication. True. Maybe all of my floor mates and I are just super enthusiastic about meetings, unlike Nathan's floor mates. True, the response to floor meetings or just getting involved in the college community depends on the person. From what I have experienced, we (CMU kids) tend to be more open to actively contributing to become apart of the college community.

THE LAST ONE! My last point connects to the last point I just made. It has to do with CMU traditions. House wars. Play fair. The fence. I truly believe that these things shape a university. Nathan never emphasized the little traditions that her college had. I found it a little sad that she didn't. It really shows how 'disconnected' the students are to their college. I find that each tradition that CMU has, it's a way that all the students connect. It's awesome how each student can just say, "Hamerschlag took over the fence" and every person would understand. Everyone knows about the legends behind the fence. The fun of play fair and house wars. This connects each student on our campus. The college that Nathan attended, however, does provide a way for each students to connect through intermurals and sports (14). CMU, obviously, offers these activities as well. What sets CMU aside from this state school that Nathan attended is that CMU provides more ways to connect to students.

I hope that I didn't lose anyone who may have read this, and I hope it helped somewhat!

-eumie kim