Ask Me?: How Can NEIU Help Its GLBTQ & Women Population Best?

A press release by Dana Navarro, Acting Director of Public Relations for NEIU states that the university has held U.S. News and World Report's "most ethnically diverse university in the Midwest" ranking since 1997. The ranking is based on the institution's enrollment numbers, and not any specific diversity initiatives of the university. With the recent opening of the Angelina Pedroso Center for Diversity and Intercultural Affairs, some of the concerns of students are finally being realized. But there are still some anxieties among students, such as the lack of African American students enrolled in the university, covert instances of racism and homophobia, and the lack of academic support outreach for specific demographics of students.

Bianca Parrish, an NEIU Biological Anthropology major said, "as diverse as NEIU is, there needs to be better recruitment of African/ "Black" students to the university. Sometimes, as a Black student, you can feel lost and that there is just a small-core group of students that are represented in that group. There has to be [a] better way to unite the diversity within NEIU, it seems that the racial groups are somewhat separated and it's sad." There are many issues that need to be addressed in regards to diversity on the campus. Not just regarding the issue of race, but of sexuality and gender identity as well.

At a recent event, "Seeds on the Soapbox", Lakeesha Harris, Political Science graduate student made mention to the fact that on that day, October 11, it was National Coming Out Day. She approached the microphone in Village Square and did what she'd told everyone they could do – she got on the microphone to say whatever she felt needed to be said. "I got on at the beginning [of the event] to say that I was lesbian, to set the tone…to let students know they were in a safe space", Harris said.

In response to Harris' public display, paintball vendor Villard Alex of Des Plaines, IL felt the need to tell the student where she'd gone wrong. "She came up on the microphone and said she's proud to be a lesbian. After about two or three hours, I had to tell her that the Bible doesn't accept gays and lesbians," said Alex.

Harris, like many other active students on campus, feels like NEIU is their home. That is why an incident like this one is so unsettling. Last semester during a "Lay In" in response to the deletion of the Adult and Women Student Programs, Dean Michael Kelly told protesters, "Here's a suggestion, write up a proposal, an alternative. Give it to me, give it to the president, but something that outlines the tow options of what you suggest." Students, faculty, and staff set out to do just that. In April of 2010, the ‘Work Group on the Needs of Women and LGBTQ Students' drafted a fifty-one page proposal for the NEIU President's Council with dated deadlines for response on certain issues.

The proposal created summary of recommendations on issues such as the creation of a presidential advisory council on diversity issues, ‘expanding and better publicizing [of] health care services for women students', and their major recommendation was to have the university, "situate the Women's Center and the LGBTQ Center within the structure of the university so that these centers (and their staff) are closely affiliated with both the Division of Student Life and the Angelina Pedroso Center for Diversity and Intercultural Affairs".

Many opponents of such a measure tout the Counseling Center and Health Services as places where these types of issues can be addressed, but many students and faculty feel otherwise. "Sixty percent of the population of this university are women, they say go to counseling and that's not immediateservices. When [Dr.] Sheena [Glover-Warren, Director of Adult and Women Student Programs] was alive, we could go to her immediately. Now there's no place to go," said Harris.

At a time when the nation is debating about our post-racial society, class and gender disparity issues, and gay marriage – students feel that the campus should be a place of solace. When told about NEIU's ranking as most diverse university in the Midwest, Kris Mika sociology major and president of NEIU's Hip Hop Organization said, "I feel that the statement fails to reflect the fact that many of our students of color are not on the main campus and there is still a lack of unity across lines of race, class, sex, gender and sexual orientation. Just ‘cause we are all here together, doesn't mean we are united in any substantial way."

The Office of Student Life is still looking into an incident surrounding a racial attack of an NEIU student on You Tube. Staff members were appalled by what some are calling, "an outrage – something you'd expect to see in the South during the 50's". A staff member, who wished to remain anonymous stated, "This isn't going to go away quietly, we're going to make sure the matter isn't ignored. This was the worst I've seen on this campus in all my time here." Although students feel a certain sense of pride at the university's ranking, some students feel that more needs to be done. Miguel, a fourth year Music Education major didn't know about the incident until now, but felt that, "There seems to be a disconnect of what people infer. People assume diverse equals no fear of discrimination. Maybe the university isn't doing something for prevention. People are of the mentality that diversity helps reduce discrimination.  I'm not threatened by this because it didn't happen to me…just yet." The Office of Student Life has yet to respond with a comment.