“Diversity Within the University” took place Sept. 30 in the University Center’s Indian Room with Dr. Shonta M. Smith, an associate professor in the College of Education, leading an interactive presentation covering diversity and the need for cultural competence.

Smith said that for too long people have closed their eyes to the issue of racism.

“We are not engaging in culturally relevant and culturally responsive practices,” Smith said. “And in America it is imperative that we learn how to not only get along together, but we must work together to do it within the best interest of moving society forward.”

According to a fall 2015 consensus, the total enrollment of students at Southeast Missouri State University is approximately 12,000 students. Out of the approximated 12,000 students, whites are majority of the student body with more than 8,400 students. African Americans have an enrollment rate of a little over 1,000.

According to Smith, while the population is increasing at Southeast, she believes that the university can be more vigilant in recruiting and retaining more African American and international students.

“Something as simple as this presentation exposing people to different cultural groups, having different activities with cultural groups, but don’t say that we can’t get them to come to this institution,” Smith said. “You have to actively seek out and recruit those individuals. And once those individuals get here, do things that members of those cultural groups can engage in so that you can retain those students.”

Smith said Dr. Kenneth W. Dobbins, former president of Southeast, created a diversity committee before he retired for students and staff from different cultural groups to talk about different things happening on campus. The committee’s purpose is to make changes collectively as a group to fix problems happening on campus.

During the discussion, Smith had activities to help students understand and apply the importance of cultural competence. She said that by one understanding their own self they can work effectively with others.

“If you are not comfortable, if you are not confident, and if you are not content with yourself it is very difficult for you to work with somebody else that is not like you,” Smith said.

“Who Am I” was an activity during which Smith told everyone to write down one word that described themselves. After the word was written, everyone around the room had to shout out the word they chose to describe themselves. Smith started the activity off by describing herself as being “awesome.” The responses varied once Smith opened the floor for answers. Some adjectives people used included: goofy, kind, masterpiece and brilliant.

“We have to interact and engage with different people in every area and every walk of life,” Smith said.

Smith said that the things we have learned and heard have an impact on how we see other people.

In the “Things I Learned and Heard” activity, a chart was given that listed identity groups with accompanied categories. The identity groups included on the chart were Asian American/Pacific Islander, Indian/Native American, Black/African American, White/European American, Hispanic/Latinos/Latino, Jewish, Gays/Lesbians, People In The Circumstance of Poverty and Women. On the chart everyone had to write things either that they heard or learned about the identity groups. The categories on the chart included: family/friend, media, faith-based and school.

Most said that from school they learned that women were seen as second-class citizens compared to their male counterparts. Many others said that they learned or heard from the media that Hispanics, Latinos, Latins are not only immigrants, but they are laborers as well.

“If you’re curious about any cultural group asks a question,” said Smith.

Smith said that people should not allow stereotypes or prejudices to get in the way of making this world a better place.

“If I’m going to work with people from different cultures, I have to work out of my comfort zone,”Smith said.

Cultural competence is not something that is only valuable in larger cities. Smith said that cultural competence is specifically important to Southeast because of the location.

”We are in the bootheel of Missouri and normally depending on what locations you are in there’s normally the dominant culture,” Smith said. “And when I say dominant culture, I’m talking about white, Anglo-Saxon Americans. They might not have the same exposure if they’re in a bigger metropolitan city. So it’s important for them to learn how to intermingle and engage with people that are not like them and defy some of those stereotypes they themselves have learned over the years. So it is important on this campus specifically so that others that have not had that opportunity to gain a better understanding of how to work effectively and efficiently when working with people from different cultures.”