All of the audience members believed that a more diverse campus would lead to a better community in the long run. Similarly, all of the participants strongly favored the idea that students should attend university in order to attain a more cultured education, and for the opportunities to interact with a wider range of cultures. With regard to creating housing that is more conducive to forming diverse living spaces, 100% of the participants agreed that reorganizing the housing system would benefit the campus as a whole. Having said this, it was also agreed upon at many points during the discussion, that the cost of renovation may be the core issue preventing a university from implementing such a process. One question nearly equally divided participants between agreement and disagreement. Penn State should enforce mandatory events about inclusion on campus. 40% of the participants somewhat agreed 10% of the participants remained neutral 50% of the participants somewhat disagreed Despite this divided array of results, about 50% of the participants who left additional comments desired for more citizens in their community to “break out of their comfort zone and attend a new event.” Creating such mandatory events would help to solve this problem. When asked to explain what they had learned from attending the deliberation, nearly 80% of those who answered, said that they hadn’t thought of housing as a key component of this issue. One participant noted that she used to think of a solution to increasing diversity on campus as “purely [related to] affirmative action, but now [she] realizes that it’s a more dynamic problem.” Statement Strongly agree Somewhat agree Neutral Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree Students tend to surround themselves with students alike, rather than venture out to new cultural communities. 50% 50% Support of inclusive diversity will, in the long run, enhance our community. 100% Admissions should provide financial aid to certain students to enhance campus diversity regardless of their academic skill. 10% 20% 60% 10%
Penn State should enforce mandatory events about inclusion on campus. 40% 10% 50% More diverse housing communities would allow students to develop social skills with people of all backgrounds. 40% 40% 10% 10% Statement Strongly agree Somewhat agree Neutral Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree The University should provide more funding for clubs that encourage diversity. 40% 30% 20% 10% The University should host more events that spread awareness of the diversity on campus. 40% 30% 30% The University should allot more funding for students in need of financial aid, so that they can attend regardless of socioeconomic status. 50% 40% 10% The University should create housing more conducive to 100%
forming diverse living spaces. Students with exposure to more diverse communities will gain a more global perspective. 80% 20% Our campus is currently both very diverse and inclusive. 20% 30% 50% The University should establish more opportunities for students to create a more diverse campus community. 40% 50% 10% Statement Strongly favor Somewhat favor Neutral Somewhat Oppose Strongly Oppose It is fair for admissions to accept students simply because they would contribute to a more diverse student body. I 10% I 30% I 10% I 30% I 20% By sharing a common living area with people of various backgrounds, students will become more globally aware. I 90% I 10% Students should attend university for experiences that will prepare them for life after university, 100%