By Ellen Emily Lau

I am all for the university supporting the minority groups on campus. Being a minority myself, I understand how being in a new environment where people are of diverse backgrounds can be intimidating and overwhelming at times. By the university creating all these official cultural groups on campus, it allows minorities to stay within their own comfort zones rather than to go out there and try to explore and understand other cultural groups.

Currently, I understand there are three ethnically-based facilities on campus including the John D. O’Bryant African-American Institute, the Latino/a Student Cultural Center, as well as the recently established Asian-American Center (“New Asian-American center opens doors in Ell Hall,” Feb. 23). Many individuals who participate within these centers are, I believe, people of that particular race.

Must we form a center for every minority group out there? What about people who are interracial? If we’ve established three ethnically-based facilities already, why not establish one for every minority group out there because I’m sure they could all use more support as well. NU values the fact it provides its students with a diverse environment to learn in and because of that, I value my experience here at NU.

Being diverse does not mean just having a number of different minority groups, it also means having a rich blended environment where they come together, sharing their different backgrounds and opinions.

– Ellen Emily Lau is a middler communications major.