Diversity Council sees low turnout

Though 39 student leaders from more than 30 different affinity-based student groups were invited, only six people attended the 6 p.m. meeting in Frist 228. They included just three student-group leaders, as well as USG president Josh Weinstein ’09, Diversity Council president Mickheila Jasmin ’10 and Fields Center program coordinator Tehama Lopez.

“What do you think about the fact that only three people showed up? What’s the incentive of a diversity council?” asked Peter Tzeng ’11, president of the Taiwanese American Student Association.

Weinstein explained that “it’s the first day back from break. We’re trying to build an institutional network. We’re trying to prove the worth and value of the organization.”

Weinstein formed the USG Diversity Council in partnership with the Fields Center to encourage collaboration and to foster inter-group dialogue between affinity-based student groups.

Jasmin also said that collaboration between groups is a main goal of the council. “I see this group as a means of helping organizations on the campus, discussing with one another what we’ll be doing in the future, creating collaborations that are not common,” she said.

Princeton Caribbean Connection president Keisha April ’10, one of the leaders to attend, said she supported the council’s aims.

“I’m really a supporter of recognizing we have a lot of differences, but similarities as well. In the Caribbean there aren’t just black people. There are Hispanic people, white people, Asian people,” she explained. “It would be great to partner up with other groups. The groups should come together as people and show that we all have the same struggles and goals.”

Tzeng noted that some student groups are more cohesive with one another than others. “I think Asian student organizations do well working together,” he explained, adding that Asian groups “don’t mean to limit [cooperation] to Asian cultures.”

“As for arranging things with other cultural groups, it would be nice,” he said, noting that he is “still kind of shaky on what the Diversity Council can provide.”

Lopez offered the Fields Center’s resources to facilitate inter-group collaboration, including building space and financial resources.

Communication is important, Lopez added. “As a staff person, it’s important for me to have an idea of what you might need and how we can better help you.”

Sustained Dialogue vice president Reggie Galloway ’11 also attended the meeting.