OPINION & EDITORIAL
‘First Wave’ of many: UW must focus retention efforts
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by Suchita Shah
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Last week I had the chance to judge the UW Collegiate Slam
poetry finals. If you've never seen a spoken-word performance before, let me
assure you that nothing quite compares to the brutal honesty and pulsating
passion of this type of poetry. This was my — and some of the other judges' —
first time critiquing a poetry slam. But appreciating the art wasn't about
being the most knowledgeable about it; it was about being the most open-minded.
Being a judge forced me to listen intently to the lyricism
and observe how the poets discussed the issues important to them, whether it
was confusion about mixing Japanese heritage with American culture or sadness
because of stereotyping and sexism. I learned more about my fellow students —
of all races, genders and creeds — in that one night than I did in my ethnic
studies requirement course. I'm
not saying that the ethnic studies requirement isn't important, but it is a
different type of learning. This
was direct, in-your-face, tell-it-like-it-is honesty — not textbook theory. This
is exactly the honesty we need in order to improve campus climate and increase
retention rates.
According to information presented at this fall's Plan 2008
Diversity Forum, only 75 percent of minority students — compared to 90 percent
of other students — think our university is doing a good job to ensure that all
students, regardless of race or ethnicity, have that great Wisconsin
Experience. The research data
presented by Academic Planning & Analysis shows there is a significant
difference in perceptions of campus climate between minority students and the
rest of campus. Students of color do not feel as positively about the
University of Wisconsin as others do, and they are less likely to stay here as
a result, with an almost 20 percent difference in retention, through
graduation, between the two groups.
Often when we talk about diversity, we use the catchphrase
"recruitment and retention." However, we as a university have been focusing too
much on recruitment and not enough on retention. Don't get me wrong —
recruitment of diverse applicants is absolutely vital to the quality of the
education we all receive. Nevertheless, equal, if not more, emphasis on
retention until graduation will be the only way we can improve campus climate
for every student.
One finding of a 2006 undergraduate survey is that living in
University Housing improves retention, perhaps due to the support of MultiCultural
Resident Consultants. Positions like these are designed to emphasize
personalized attention, instead of letting students fall through the cracks. Another
example of individualized support is the First Wave Urban Arts Learning Community,
the first of its kind in the country. It combines the existing infrastructure
of University Housing with a supportive cohort of peers to cut across perceived
racial boundaries.
First Wave is run by the Office of Multicultural Arts
Initiatives, the same entity that collaborated to organize the poetry slam
finals. Founded in 2005 as a part of the School of Education, OMAI is an
embodiment of the Wisconsin Idea that we at UW should always be giving back to
the community. Josh Healey, program director of OMAI, told me student
organizations have been having this conversation about campus climate for some
time. He said OMAI shows the administration values these discussions, yet there
are so many conversations that have yet to be had and so many gaps that still
exist.
Events like the UW Collegiate Slam are ultimately going to
bridge those gaps among students and improve campus climate and understanding
and thus retention rates. In my time here as a student, I have seen no other
administrative entity that strives for — and achieves — the integration of
campus and community as well as OMAI does, from its spoken-word clubs in local
Madison high schools to its continuous flow of co-sponsored events on campus.
A new addition to the litany of OMAI events this year is the
monthly Just Bust! open mic night, to which I accompanied a friend last Friday.
He was scared initially, but warmed up as the evening went on and the
supportiveness of the listeners grew. Young and old, black, brown and white,
gay and straight, male and female — all united by the nervousness and fear that
come with putting your art out there and knowing the audience isn't judging
you. And that is what makes you feel comfortable here on campus. That is when
connections are made across cultures, erasing the gaps of perceived satisfaction
and laying the foundation for improved retention.
Initiatives like First Wave contribute to that foundation by
prioritizing the improvement of campus climate, directly and indirectly. Danez
Smith, a First Wave artist, busted his poem, "What It Is," at the open mic. Smith's
poem captured my feelings that night about poetry, spoken word and initiatives
like OMAI: "It is crossing gender lines, color lines, language lines, picket
lines, welfare lines, lying lines/ It is the line between revolution and
resolution."
What we need to do as a university and a community is quit the posturing and rhetoric. Quit the debating about the necessity of diversity education programs or positions promoting diversity and campus climate. Quit focusing too much on recruitment and start focusing on retention. We need to quit talking, quit stalling and Just Bust.
Suchita Shah (shah2@wisc.edu)
is a senior majoring in neurobiology.
Anonymous (December 12, 2007 @ 2:20am):
Let me ask you this: Northwestern University is able to attract high scoring, well-adjusted, type A, diverse students. They do not need to open special "First Wave" units at their school.
Why is that?
Anonymous (December 12, 2007 @ 2:25am):
Nice piece.
Anonymous (December 12, 2007 @ 2:41am):
2:20 - Answer: Lack of in-state quotas and private school status.
Oh, and they're right near Chicago - they have a HUGE pool to pitch to already.
Anonymous (December 12, 2007 @ 4:53am):
"According to information presented at this fall's Plan 2008 Diversity Forum, only 75 percent of minority students -- compared to 90 percent of other students -- think our university is doing a good job to ensure that all students, regardless of race or ethnicity, have that great Wisconsin Experience."
If you read the Badger Herald editorial page, you'd never think it is 75%. Perhaps 5%. Could someone provide numbers for other schools? 75% of people agreeing on one topic seems like quite a success!
Anonymous (December 12, 2007 @ 9:07am):
great article suchita!
Anonymous (December 12, 2007 @ 10:02am):
75% isn't a success when everyone else is getting a 90%. The curve puts you at a nice, solid...D. D's don't get degrees.
Anonymous (December 12, 2007 @ 12:13pm):
Well done Suchita!
Anonymous (December 12, 2007 @ 12:16pm):
4:53 is right - without any kind of context that number really means nothing to me.
Comparing it with what white people think is a pretty ridiculous comparison, that much I do know. I also hear apples are quite like oranges.
Anonymous (December 12, 2007 @ 12:56pm):
I love Suchita Shah!
Anonymous (December 12, 2007 @ 1:37pm):
Oh that's a terrible argument. 75% of people seldom agree on anything. I'd venture that 75%, when compared to minority viewpoints across colleges, is a high number
Can it be improved? Yes. Is there a crisis according to that data? Surprisingly not. When you read BH editorials like this one, you'd think it'd be 40% to 90% or something substantial.
Anonymous (December 12, 2007 @ 4:11pm):
The problem isnt that 75 % of minorities feel that way but that there is a 15% difference in how the two populations feel. And comparing it to minority viewpoints across other colleges doesn't make ours look better - it just says that the same problem exists everywhere.
Anonymous (December 12, 2007 @ 5:00pm):
Or it may be that we're doing better than the average. It may be that we seek a standard that is impossible. It may be that ultra-liberals on campus are pressing an agenda and spending money we do not need to, because many people feel things are A OK already.
Give some of that scholarship money to asian kids with 35 ACTs from Chicago, not 21 ACTs because they happen to be black.
Anonymous (December 12, 2007 @ 5:40pm):
It's interesting to see many people praising first wave for their "boldness" and "telling it how it is" yet in reality a lot of people only see or hear of them on stage.
Have a candid conversation with them and you will realize that what they write about,talk about only perpetuates the system that they criticize.
Criticize alcoholism yet didn't i just see you at that party last week drunk?
Criticize the system about derogatory terms against women yet you use them nonchalantly.
Wake up people and realize who you are praising...
Anonymous (December 12, 2007 @ 5:59pm):
To all those complaining about giving more scholarships and getting more minorities in -- did you read the article? It's all about focusing on keeping them here instead of just the numbers coming in.
Michael Johnson (December 12, 2007 @ 6:04pm):
That last comment is just dumb. 22 is the national average.27 is madison's. Asian students already make up the largest majority of minority students.Asian people have numerous scholarships, and more so, are often just as capable of paying as a upper class white.They come from higher incomes than most minorities and even some whites.
Anonymous (December 12, 2007 @ 7:42pm):
suchita works for the bh....?!
Anonymous (December 12, 2007 @ 7:44pm):
YEa give to the kids that score 35s ... since the ACT high score = success... NO!
Just because you score high on the ACT means nothing. Many schools are starting to disregard standardized test scoring in general. If you want some educated work on this ... look up Lani Guinier and her idea on meritocracy.
BTW - 5pm ... that is the most inconsiderate and ill-minded comment. But I'm sure you have fun sparking heated comments on the badger herald comments section.
Real mature ...
Anonymous (December 12, 2007 @ 8:28pm):
Way to go Badger Herald for finally getting some diverse columnists. Now we can have someone who knows how it feels to be a minority on campus instead of a bunch of white males philosophizing about how we don't need diversity programs.
Anonymous (December 12, 2007 @ 9:55pm):
Please stop thinking that black kids are somehow less educated than other students! This argument is old...why does anyone cares.
Anonymous (December 13, 2007 @ 1:35am):
What a great article; however, Suchita, you didn't give any props to the Multicultural Student Coalition for putting on the jam! Props to my homegirls Jaimie, Katrina and Gabby for putting on a dope jam. In addition, I think the article should address the MCSC and its events like the poetry slam which contribute to improving campus climate just as you so mentioned.
Ayo, to the person that thinks that a black student is admitted into the University of Wisconsin -- Madison is just due to the color of his or her skin-tone doesn't understand what an underrepresented minority is nor stands for. To define, an underrepresented minority is black, Latin@, Native American, or Southeast Asian. This category excludes South, Central, and East Asians, and Middle Easterns.
It's not JUST about being black or being any underrepresented minority, but what racial or ethnic backgrounds contribute to this campus, in terms of experiences and perspectives, similar to the urban art talent like First Wave. Furthermore, an underrepresented minority that gets admitted to this university most often achieve academically at high levels at his or her school. Finally, if you want to look at this issue from an affirmative action standpoint, the University's greatest affirmative action plan is WOMEN IN SCIENCE.
Smoked!
If you got beef, get at me:
Jonathan M. Truong
Multicultural Student Coalition Administrative Staff
Multicultural Student Center
Asian American Student Union Chair
jtruong@wisc.edu
Anonymous (December 13, 2007 @ 3:33am):
thanks a lot jon, MCSC deserves a great deal of appreciation for all their efforts, ESPECIALLY Jamie, Katrina, Gaby, and Jair. MCSC, keep doin what you do so well!
Anonymous (December 13, 2007 @ 10:12am):
Hollaback!
Anonymous (December 13, 2007 @ 10:46pm):
MCSC holding it down...since 2000. Word.
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