The question of whether or not on-campus events cater to minorities, is one that has been asked repeatedly throughout the recent history of St. John’s. Simply, the answer is no.
One thing that must be clarified is the misconception that campus events are created by administration. In reality, they are created by the student programming boards, which are comprised of a variety St. John’s students.
St. John’s University is a mid-sized institution consisting of 20,347 students. 43.3 percent of that population consists of minorities. Students who are not categorized as minorities make up a little less than half of the St. John’s student body at 46.1 percent.
By spending one year at St. John’s, any student will notice that most of the events are created by diverse student organizations. The various organizations are largely made up of Black, Caribbean, and as Hispanic students that make it their goal to create events that can be enjoyed by all.
One example of such an event is the Haitian Society’s Spring 2006 International House of Style Fashion Show. Events like these are constantly being held at St. John’s. The frequency and popularity of these events as well as the organizations that sponsor them may appear, to some, as if minority students are the sole driving force behind the on-campus social scene at St. John’s.
But that conclusion is far from reality. Many organizations that are not made up of minority students hold numerous events throughout the school year. Whether it is a bake sale by a sorority, or a concert on the Great Lawn featuring rock artists, there are many events that are created by student organizations that do not cater specifically to minority students.
When it comes down to it, the majority of the events at St. John’s are venues for students to express themselves, celebrate diverse cultures, and educate other students about what is important to them. These are opportunities to go out and meet people and try new things that a person may not normally have the opportunity to try.
If a student feels that the events are not diverse enough, perhaps they should get together with friends and plan their own event. It is easier to complain about events that may not interest a student than it is to create an event that he or she may think will.