DEBATE Part I: Cultural clubs leave some feeling empowered, others isolated

By Colleen Snyder

In almost every mission statement of almost every cultural club on campus, one can find the phrase: "we aim to promote awareness and education to the diverse community at Santa Clara." This sounds great.

Coming from a mixed ethnic background and not really identifying with any of them has left me yearning to learn about other cultures. However, every time I have gathered the courage to attend one of the cultural clubs' events, I have left feeling out of place and transparent. At first I thought maybe it was just me who didn't feel comfortable at these culturally-specific functions; however, I soon found out that many people on the Santa Clara campus feel the same way.

At one club function, someone asked the crowd, "Are there any more people here that are not in the club?" How is a comment like that intended to make the only person obviously not of club ethnicity in the room feel? Another acquaintance reported attending one club function, only to listen to a speech in a language she obviously did not understand. Everyone else in the room understood, however, and she left feeling embarrassed and excluded. These incidents, although anecdotal, are the real reasons why these cultural clubs aren't fulfilling their mission statements at all.

Not only are the students who don't fit neatly into any one ethnic background being isolated, the clubs also serve to isolate their own members from the rest of the university population. Forget the Greek system - these clubs are the biggest cliques on campus. I know that some clubs are much more clique-y in nature than others, but still, what is the idea behind this exclusivity?

I have heard that argument that people who are in the minority deserve a place where they can feel comfortable with other people who come from their same backgrounds. This is understandable. If I was studying alone in some foreign country, I'd definitely want a group of people from the United States with whom I could feel comfortable. But that is a different situation. Most of the people at Santa Clara are from the United States, which makes us all coming from relatively the same background.

I'm not saying I don't value the diversity that can be found on a campus such as Santa Clara. Like I said, I am envious of people who have a strong connection with their cultural backgrounds. I see the point of sharing your culture, but I don't see the point of clinging to it so strongly as to isolate oneself from one's surroundings. After all, what is the point of diversity if it is not shared? The isolationist nature of these cultural clubs keeps people boxed into their tight, closed-off groups - which really defeats the purpose of having people from all different backgrounds on this campus.

Who would benefit more from experiencing a day fasting during Ramadan - Muslims who already fast anyway or non-Muslims who have no idea what Ramadan is all about or how it feels to go a day without eating? I think the answer to this is evident. I know there are individuals in these groups who would agree with me and who personally strive for the inclusion of anyone with an open-mind into their club events. It's just not working. I propose that the MCC be a place where people of all cultures can get together and hang out. Maybe every month a different event could be held, and people of every cultural background would attend. This would eliminate the isolation that causes the barrier to celebrating our diversity on campus.