"I think it's flat out wrong."
That's what Miami University President David Hodge had to say about the school's ranking by the Princeton Review in 2008 as No. 4 for having little race and class interaction.
"This is one of these lingering reputation things," Hodge said. "We're better than that."
Gerald Yearwood, senior administrative director in the office of diversity affairs, said the university is veering away from this stereotype.
"I think that the university as a whole is trying to make a change as far is diversity is concerned," Yearwood said. "From my understanding, the incoming (first-year) class is higher in African-American as well as international students."
Yearwood said the office of admission should receive credit for this.
"My hat goes off to the office of admission. I believe that their current numbers indicate that they exceed their expectations," Yearwood said about the increase in diversity of first-year students.
Hodge also applauded the university for the increase, including the fact that more than 3 percent of the first-year class is international.
"We've changed the numbers rather dramatically," Hodge said.
Hodge also said Miami must continue its efforts to create a more diverse campus.
"We have to make sure that we're out creating a climate on campus where everyone feels a place here," Hodge said.
Yearwood added that different departments from across the university have been offering various cultural activities for students.
"The Center for American and World Cultures puts on a lot of different cultural events that would give some emphasis to understanding different cultures," Yearwood said.
He added that his department, the office of diversity affairs, as well as the Women's Center, and various other departments such as residence life are able to address issue of diversity with students.
"It's all about education and working together because that's the environment that you'll encounter," Yearwood said of Miami students after they graduate. "With a diverse population you're going to have to be able to adjust. If you can't, it's going to create a problem as far as your professional life is concerned."
Diversity Affairs Council, a segment within Associated Student Government (ASG), works to strengthen, improve and broaden diversity and cultural awareness at Miami.
ASG Secretary for Diversity Affairs Una Hrnjak challenged everyone at Miami to strengthen relationships with the people around them, who may be unlike themselves.
"I encourage the Miami community to make their own determination of this standing," Hrnjak said. "You would be surprised with all the diversity on this campus that you cannot see with the eye. Students from different religions, races, backgrounds all work closely together in school and out of school."
Hodge added that the university is headed in a direction to help students become more informed.
"We value diversity," Hodge said. "We're all different from each other and we value our differences and that's who we are."
