Diversity Statement
Mesa State College
p. 8 of the Catalog
Following is a statement of philosophy on diversity which
has been adopted by the faculty at Mesa State College:
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Mesa State College is a community of
scholars in the LIBERAL ARTS TRADITION.
As faculty we believe that all people,
regardless of gender, linguistic heritage,
marital status, origin, religion, or sexual
orientation, have something worthwhile to
contribute and that these contributions
benefit us all.
Following is a statement of philosophy on diversity which
has been adopted by the faculty at Mesa State College:

Therefore, we intend that within our
academic community all cultural
differences will be treated with equal
respect and tolerance. We desire that our
students have the opportunity to
appreciate the diversity in our modern
world, and encourage them to partake of
the resources available within our
community.
Following is a statement of philosophy on diversity which
has been adopted by the faculty at Mesa State College:

As faculty we pledge ourselves to provide
as many divergent cultural experiences for
our students as the resources of the
college and the needs of our disciplines
allow.
Following is a statement of philosophy on diversity which
has been adopted by the faculty at Mesa State College:

To further tolerance and appreciation for
our society’s diversity, Mesa State requires
that all graduates fulfill General Education
requirements. In doing so, we honor the
validity of a LIBERAL EDUCATION.
Following is a statement of philosophy on diversity which
has been adopted by the faculty at Mesa State College:

We hope that the experience will help our
students understand how to appreciate
the true diversity of the world. Because
diversity promotes multiple opinions,
techniques, viewpoints, and approaches, it
is not the individual courses within the
General Education program which we
believe will further the above-stated goals,
but the whole experience of the program
itself.
LIBERAL -- Adjective

Main Entry: 1lib·er·al
Pronunciation: 'li-b(&-)r&l
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin liberalis suitable for a
freeman, generous, from liber free; perhaps akin to Old English lEodan to grow,
Greek eleutheros free
Date: 14th century
1 a : of, relating to, or based on the liberal arts <liberal education> b archaic : of or
befitting a man of free birth
2 a : marked by generosity : OPENHANDED <a liberal giver> b : given or provided
in a generous and openhanded way <a liberal meal> c : AMPLE, FULL
3 obsolete : lacking moral restraint : LICENTIOUS
4 : not literal or strict : LOOSE <a liberal translation>
5 : BROAD-MINDED; especially : not bound by authoritarianism, orthodoxy, or
traditional forms
6 a : of, favoring, or based upon the principles of liberalism b capitalized : of or
constituting a political party advocating or associated with the principles of political
liberalism; especially : of or constituting a political party in the United Kingdom
associated with ideals of individual especially economic freedom, greater individual
participation in government, and constitutional, political, and administrative reforms
designed to secure these objectives
Liberal -- Noun

Main Entry: 2liberal
Function: noun
Date: 1820
: a person who is liberal: as a : one who is
open-minded or not strict in the
observance of orthodox, traditional, or
established forms or ways b capitalized : a
member or supporter of a liberal political
party c : an advocate or adherent of
liberalism especially in individual rights
Liberal Arts

Main Entry: liberal arts
Function: noun plural
Date: 14th century
1 : the medieval studies comprising the trivium
and quadrivium
2 : the studies (as language, philosophy, history,
literature, abstract science) in a college or
university intended to provide chiefly general
knowledge and to develop the general
intellectual capacities (as reason and judgment)
as opposed to professional or vocational skills
The General Education Goals
A MSC graduate should:
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1. Be able to communicate effectively in
English
2. Possess mathematical skills.
3. Be aware of the great moral, ethical,
and philosophical questions which have
endured through the ages.
4. Have some knowledge of the origins of
our own culture and the existence of
others.
The General Education Goals
A MSC graduate should:
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5. Be able to think critically and recognize
issues across a broad spectrum of
subjects.
6. Understand the complexities of our
social, economic, and political
environment.
7. Have a familiarity with the scientific
approach to the biological, psychological
and physical universe.
The General Education Goals
A MSC graduate should:
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8. Appreciate the contributions of
literature to our perceptions of ourselves
and our world.
9. Appreciate the aesthetic spirit of
mankind through a study of some aspect
of the performing and visual arts.
Discussion Questions
Discuss the interconnections between
Diversity, Liberal Arts and General
Education. Do you, like the college and
the faculty, see them as integral to a
College Degree? Why are these values
important to our society?
Discussion Questions
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How would you define race? What does it mean
to you?
How many races do you think there are? What
are they? How do you decide which race
someone belongs to?
Where do your ideas about race come from?
What are the sources of your information?
Look around the room. Who do you think is
most likely to be similar to you biologically or
genetically? Why?
Post-Film Discussion Questions

At the beginning of the film, the students
were asked to predict whom they would
be most like when their compared their
DNA samples. How did the results
compare with their expectations? Were
you surprised? If so, why?
Post-Film Discussion Questions
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Anthropologish Alan Goodman says that
“to understand the why the idea of race is
a biological myth requires a major
paradigm shift.” Do you agree? Did the
film present any information that shifted
your thinking in a major way? If so,
what?
Post-Film Discussion Questions
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Towards the end of the film, the students
are asked if they would trade their skin
color. Would you trade yours? Would you
trade your gender? Your sexual
orientation? How would your life be
different if you did?
Post-Film Discussion Questions
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Turn of the century scientists like
Frederick Hoffman drew scientific
conclusions based on what they believed
to be true. How are scientists today
influenced by their beliefs or their social
context?
How are we all in our every day decisions?