In any community, especially a place of higher education, tolerance and diversity are important pillars for supporting the community.
Particularly in the past year, the OCU student body has expressed concerns with the status of diversity and inclusion. Officials offered the campus community a way to make their voices heard through a diversity and inclusion survey, but only 17% of students participated in the evaluation. This seems like a missed opportunity for students to express their opinions.
As a community, we students cannot demand change and then not do our part to enact it. When given the chance to share our thoughts on important issues, we should jump at the opportunity to begin the process of growth and transformation. Participation in this survey is important, and, though it may seem insignificant, this is our chance to put some weight behind our words. The survey may not have been perfect, but it was a direct way to share opinions with university officials. We should take advantage of such opportunities. These surveys usually only take a few minutes, and it we must use those minutes wisely.
Nothing comes from nothing. We cannot sit and wait for change; we must work to actively improve the campus and the world in the ways that we see fit. Students have the opportunity to create real improvements in diversity and inclusion on college campuses, and waiting for something to happen without working to encourage it will only cause frustration on both ends.
This applies to any cause or social reform movement, whether it involves the campus directly or not. In order to have an impact, students need to actively participate in surveys, elections and censuses. Now is the time the world needs action, and if we sit back and let the opportunity pass by, our we will never fulfill or beliefs in social change.
Hopefully, officials will present the campus community with the opportunity to make their voices heard again, and when that time comes, we must use the opportunity to the fullest of our ability.
It is not only our right, but our duty to improve the community, and empty words will not bring the university any closer to equality and tolerance for all.
Participate in surveys that affect the community. Vote in elections. Start a petition for change. Reach out to leaders. Only then will this generation make an impact on the world.
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