Source: santaclarabroncos.com
As an incoming student, I looked at this image and was fooled by its depiction. Foolishly again, I didn’t take the time to really check the statistics of diversity at Santa Clara. In my defense, coming from a majority why private high school and being surrounded by caucasian people for my entire life didn’t give me much reason to worry. However, upon moving in, I quickly realized that what was being advertised in pictures and on preview days was not the reality of the student body.
Source: Giphy
While I commend SCU’s efforts, there’s something wrong with putting on a diverse front and then hoping and praying that minority students will stick around because of financial aid. In conversation with many other minority students (of all races) I learned that the massive financial aid and scholarship package is what persuaded them to become a Bronco. That and the images of Black and Latina/o students broadcasted in pictures and videos around orientation time. It isn’t until you are completely immersed on campus that you realize the weight of the illusion.
Source: cardfight.wikia.com
While I don’t think it’s ok to lie or put on a misleading front, I also don’t think that being surrounded by a majority white community is the absolute worst. While alienating, ultimately I believe that it’s a useful tool to have when we are all inevitably thrown out into the world. The reality is that our nation is majority white. The jobs that higher education will propel us into are also majority white. Some minority student’s articulate that they experienced a culture shock at SCU. And while that is hard now, they will be more prepared for future endeavors and won’t have that experience again. Or at least…I hope they won’t. Here I go again, always trying to find the bright side of a crappy situation.
Source: Giphy