| Can we stop throwing statistics around here? Having a 5% or 7% lower diversity rating means nothing.
I've visited HYP extensively before I came to Princeton. I still visit there every so often. I can assure you that no Ivy, no matter how liberal or integrated, boasts a magical dreamland where people of all colors mingle in harmony. Every school boasts self-separation.
Certain eating clubs at Princeton may exaggerate the problem, but after three years I realize the effects are rather minor. The recent financial aid initiative for eating clubs has had a huge impact on socioeconomic choices for joining clubs (there's visibly much less concern among students I talk to), and interaction among disparate groups occurs elsewhere anyways.
You might have visited for two or three days, but my assessment of the school then has changed after three years. I stayed overnight three times at Pton before deciding to come here, and had a fairly good grasp of the eating club system when I applied.
Honestly, I don't think Princeton's diversity is anything to worry about at all compared to the other Ivies. You'll find self-separation here but also plenty of interaction.
These are just three anecdotes, and there are many more I could tell.
- One Asian female friend became good friends with an officer in an "elite" bicker club sterotypically known for its white, souther contingent. She was happy in her sign in club, and is now independent because she wants to spend her money at restaurants around town instead.
- Terrace, one of the typically "liberal" and hippy clubs known for its English majors, now boasts sizeable ethnic diversity as well as diverse member groups such as model UN.
- I myself am able to maintain a diverse group of friends at eat at multiple clubs as week despite not being in the club system at all.
- Triangle club elected its first black president this year, and the diversity of other clubs is only increasing. One female a cappella group is 1/3 asian now, the next PICSIM model UN tourney is on Africa, etc etc.
- Gay asian friend sings with the largely black gospel ensemble, etc. etc.
Point in case is, by junior year everyone realizes theres a lot more out there than the club system. Activities definitely bring people together. Those who chose not to pursue diversity at Princeton probably wouldn't pursue it anyways were they at another school. So figures, percentages, and even two or three visits doesn't tell the full story.
Please, just let current and former students tell the story. If you want to debate, tell us about your college instead. Numbers are meaningless, since we all go through college having only experienced a tiny slice of the whole pie. Depending on how you slice it, you can get a non diverse experience at the most diverse of colleges, and a diverse experience at the least of colleges. As far as wanting diversity goes, if you want it Princeton has it. |