Many institutions of higher learning have established mandatory enrollment and retention figures for under-represented groups; however, simply creating a more diverse student body in numbers will not magically produce a postive diverse environment. Curriculum modification, faculty and staff development and diversification, academic support, and opportunities for inter-group communication must be initiated. According to Dr. Linda Trompetter, executive director of the Misericordia University Diversity Institute and the Northeastern Pennsylvania Diversity Education Consortium, "Having a diverse environment and curriculum in schools, and maintaining a diverse student body, faculty and staff is not primarily for minorities. Majority students, faculty and staff benefit the most," she said. We live in a global, multicultural society, and we do a major disservice to majority students if we do not educate them about diversity, because they will not be prepared to function successfully in a multicultural, global society. We know why it is important to teach skills such as writing or thinking, but without multicultural skills, our students will be at a great disadvantage. Nothing substitutes for direct exposure to differences, hearing different perspectives, and empathizing with experiences not your own."

Undoubtedly, the increasing diversity of student populations enhances the academic atmosphere. Classroom discussions examine different viewpoints and opinions bring to light each person’s history and encourage understanding and mutual respect. "As educators, we must be committed to enhancing students’ understanding and appreciation of varied ethnic, racial, and religious cultures, for both the richness it brings to ALL our lives, as well as the pragmatic outcome of preparing our next generation of leaders to effectively work with individuals of different backgrounds," said Kathie Flanagan-Herstek, assistant director of academic affairs at Penn State Wilkes-Barre.

Students, confronted with ideas and experiences new to them, are forced to re-examine their own feelings and prejudices. Some discover they have been harboring prejudices not based on facts, but emotions, false information or stereotypes.

Studies indicate increased satisfaction overall among students at institutions that foster diversity. Other benefits include higher retention of minority students, dispelling of stereotypes, increased respect, and acceptance of differences.

Potential employers now demand strong multi-cultural business and communication backgrounds for graduates. "The 21^st century is here and the global village a reality," said Dr. James Merryman, director of InternationalStudies/Distance Learning at Wilkes University. "Diversity in education means that students can access language and cultural skills to forge cutting edge careers to compete effectively in the international market place." With the rapid expansion of electronic commerce via the Internet, businesses are increasingly dealing with international personnel and consumers. Managing a varied workforce requires on-going training and many Fortune 500 companies have dedicated entire departments to evaluating and improving diversity management skills.

Unfortunately, diversity often breeds contempt as has been experienced at many campuses across the nation. Racist e-mail messages, swastikas painted and burned into buildings, defacing of religious symbols, arson fires and physical attacks ending in severe battering or death have been reported at institutions at an alarming frequency. In recent years, hate groups have been targeting college students for recruitment. Impressionable first year students are particularly attractive. For many freshmen, this is their first experience away from home, and their lack of association with other cultures makes them more susceptible to hate group propaganda. These hate groups will seek out and expand a "wedge" issue, anything that will drive people apart. They play on student’s fears and insecurities, inciting emotions with their perspective on freedom and patriotism, family values, and the Bible.

The World Wide Web has become an increasingly important tool for recruiting students for hate groups. The groups post newsletters, announce rallies, and offer heavy metal hate type songs for downloading. The Web also offers many sites that foster diversity.

Locally, the Northeastern Pennsylvania Diversity Consortium, established in 1998 and headquarter at Misericordia University, works to establish multicultural understanding in the community. Among NEPDEC’s charter education members are Misericordia University, King’s College, Luzerne County Community College, Penn State Wilkes-Barre and Worthington Scranton, Wilkes University and several local school districts. The goals of the Consortium are to create a more inclusive regional environment and to prepare area students for the diverse workplaces and communities in which they will be living.

The Diversity Institute, also at Misericordia University, is an educational resource center established in 1993 that works with the community to foster multicultural understanding. In an effort to involve more young people, the Institute has held a weeklong Multicultural Summer Camp for the past two years, and will conduct another in June, 2003. This free camp, open to high school sophomores, has been sponsored by ten area participating school districts and teaches students about diversity and multiculturalism through workshops, seminars, social activity, and games. Students who complete camp activities are expected to serve as "Ambassadors of Change" in their schools; they can use the skills they acquire in camp to combat bigotry and promote multicultural understanding and appreciation in their own school. They are also expected to develop programs of awareness for their fellow students.

"The community is becoming quite aware of the need to be more diversified and has made significant strides to offer a more welcoming environment to students of color," says Michelle Cooper, director of multicultural and international affairs at King’s College.

"Students appreciate the opportunity to take advantage of the well-rounded calendar of cultural events offered by both the F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts and Barnes and Noble, among others. Yet, although we’ve made significant efforts to accommodate students in many ways, they still see the need to improve some services such as ethnic grocery stores, pharmacies, and salons."

It is also crucial that diversity events are an integral part of campus life, not just one day, or one-month celebrations. In order to impact campus lifestyle, diversity education should continually permeate the curriculum and atmosphere and be an integral part of the strategic plan.

According to Dr. Janis Wilson, co-chair of the Diversity/Equity Partnership at Luzerne County Community College, "Colleges and universities need to provide courses and opportunities for understanding in order to help integrate and foster a respect for all individuals. By developing respect for all, students will be better prepared to live and work in a diverse, multi-cultural society."