RSO requirement to promote diversity
All 413 registered student organizations at Central Michigan University have vowed not to discriminate, but only 21 have gone a step further to promote diversity.
There isn't a punishment for not promoting intercultural understanding. Just one if an RSO breaks doesn't follow the manual and discriminates against an individual or group of people.
Located under policy nine in The Policy Manual and Guide to Running an RSO, the Non-Discrimination Act states that all students have equal opportunity in education,employment and university programs. A signed document agreeing to the terms and condition of The Policy Manual and Guide to Running an RSO restrains RSOs from breaking the rules that prevent discriminations, but it does not require organizations to promote them.
CMU is required by federal law to implement affirmative action during the process of hiring new employees and/or accepting up and coming students, but not when new members join an RSO.
“When going through recruitment we're told to look for the best candidate regardless of where they came from," Clinton Twp. junior David Wong said. "As I looked at composite photos of my past brothers on the wall, I only found a few other Asians.”
Only one RSO has included and represented nearly every ethnicity at CMU. With over 200 members, the International Student Organization is the only RSO to act as a melting pot for various ethnicities. ISO is comprised of student from around the world, including those born in the U.S.
“Students of all different backgrounds have a chance to collaborate with each other and dip themselves into other cultures, without physically going to that place,” said the Assistant Director for Student Organizations, Dani Rossman.
There are 21 RSOs that aim to promote intercultural understanding and relationships. Separated on Orgsync by purpose, there are eight multicultural RSO’s and 13 single culture RSO’s. Even though both single culture and multicultural RSO’s have the same goals, they still work separately without intermingling.
“The university puts on all kinds of events that are tailored to a specific ethnicity, but usually those who attend are of that descent, unless its required for some reason, ” said the Office of Diversity, Ethnicity and Inclusion Assistant, Camille Floyd.
