(Diversity.doc)
Diversity
There never was in the world two opinions alike, no more than two hairs or two grains; the most universal
quality is diversity.
Michael de Montaigne, Of the Resemblance of Children to their Fathers
No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river and he's not the same man.
Heraclitus
Diversity is "otherness," or those human qualities that are different from our own and outside the groups to
which we belong, yet are present in other individuals and groups. It is important to distinguish between the
primary and secondary dimensions of diversity.
Primary dimensions are the following: age, ethnicity, gender, physical abilities/qualities, race and sexual
orientation.
Secondary dimensions of diversity are those that can be changed, and include, but are not limited to:
educational background, geographic location, income, marital status, military experience, parental status,
religious beliefs, and work experiences.
Diversity At UMCP: Moving Toward Community Plan 1995
The Hypertext Webster Gateway provides the following definitions of "diversity."
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
Diversity \Di*ver"si*ty\, n.; pl. {Diversities}. [F. diversit['e], L. diversitas, fr. diversus. See {Diverse}.]
1. A state of difference; dissimilitude; unlikeness. 2. Multiplicity of difference; multiformity; variety.
3. Variegation. Syn: See {Variety}.
From WordNet (r) 1.6 (wn)
diversity n 1: noticeable heterogeneity; "a diversity of possibilities"; "the range and variety of his work is
amazing" [syn: {diverseness}, {multifariousness}, {variety}] 2: the condition or result of being variable.
The following are often listed as kinds of diversity:








age
class
disability
gender
national origin
race and ethnicity
religion
sexual orientation
MSU statistics
Institutional Research <http://www.mnsu.edu/dept/instres/> provides statistics for age and
ethnic origin.
Diversity, page 2
MSU resources
Affirmative Action
112 Armstrong Hall (AH 112)
389-2986 (V/TTY)
Center on Aging
358 Trafton Science Center N (TN 358)
389-6504
Cultural Diversity
115 Alumni Foundation Center (AF 115)
389-6125
Disability Services Office
117 Armstrong Hall (AH 117)
389-1819 (V/TTY)
Ethnic Studies Department
109 Morris Hall (MH 109)
389-2798
Gerontology Department
358 Trafton science Center N (NR 358)
389-6504
Intercultural Student Center
269 Centennial Student Union (SU 269)
389-6207
International Student Office
219 Centennial Student Union (SU 219)
389-1281
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Center
256 Centennial Student Union (SU 256)
389-5131
MSU for Seniors
220 Alumni Foundation Center (AF 220)
389-2011
Multicultural Affairs Office
22 Centennial Student Union (SU 22)
389-6300
Women’s Center
218 Centennial Student Union (SU 218)
389-6146
Institutional Research
323 Wigley Administration Center (WA 323)
389-6624
The following print publications should be useful to you:



MSU General Education & Cultural Diversity Bulletin 2000-2001
MSU Undergraduate Bulletin 2000-2001
Office of Affirmative Action: brochures on students and employees’ rights and
responsibilities:
 Disability Discrimination and Harassment
 Racial Discrimination and Harassment
 Sexual/Gender Discrimination and Harassment
 Sexual Orientation Discrimination and Harassment
WWW resources
The following are useful starting points for exploring diversity.
Diversity database: “Moving Towards Community.” 2000. University of Maryland
<http://www.inform.umd.edu/EdRes/Topic/Diversity> 2000, November 12.
Contains links to 1) general diversity resources, 2) diversity reference resources, 3) issue specific
resources, 4) institutional diversity initiatives, and 5) a diversity news bureau.
Diversity resources online. n.d. National Association for Diversity Management
<http://www.nadm.org/> 2000, November 14.
Kabacoff, Rob. 2000. Resources for diversity. Inter-Links <http://alabanza.com/kabacoff/InterLinks/diversity.html> 2000, November 14.