Eastern Kentucky University and Diversity
Eastern Kentucky University released their Fall 2019 enrollment report. Here are some numbers.
Visually, there is quite a large disparity between races at EKU. I wanted to know more about the issue, so I contacted the diversity officer of the Student Government Association and EKU’s Diversity office. I first spoke to Eyouel Mekonnen, the diversity officer for SGA. He recently wrote a report about diversity within SGA that will be presented to the University’s Board of Regents on November 19th.
As a man of color, as well as being from another country, I asked for his thoughts about Diversity at EKU. Mekonnen stated, “We [EKU] serve the south eastern region of Kentucky. There are not a lot of people of color in our [EKU] region… Our number’s are not going to look like those of University of Louisville… But that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for improvement. Diversity is one of the pillar’s that uphold the institution of higher education” His job as Director of Diversity for EKU’s SGA is to create events that cater inclusion. I asked if there is anything he believed the University should be doing to address the issue. He explained that the University’s issue is not recruiting diverse people, but getting them to stay. “We need to have strategic programing to make sure first of foremost, to make sure students feel welcome here and second of all, are able to preform like every other student.” While I initially went into this issue looking at the lack of diversity in race, Makonnen pointed out that race and gender aren’t the only things that count toward diversity. “It is very hard to define diversity, but anything that is different would be considered diverse.” He explained that socio economic standing can be as much a diversity as race or gender. Appalachian students and international students also make up minorities on campus. Mekonnen spoke, “It is my job to look after these minorities.”
While the Vice Provost and Chief Diversity Officer for EKU said that he could not honor my request for an interview, Abigail Wright, the Program Coordinator graduate assistant did answer a few of my questions on diversity inside of EKU athletics. She explained, “We want everybody. Not just race, but gender and sexual orientation.” I asked if the large gap in race diversity for EKU is also apparent within EKU athletics. “The gap is not that big,” she replied, “just look through the rosters for the different sports. Diversity is thriving inside of EKU Athletics.” International students make up a good portion of EKU’s Athletics even despite the cut to tennis, which held a lot of international students. The former Program Coordinator graduate assistant was Marcella Roche, an international student from Brazil. I asked Write if she believes there is a way to bring diversity to the rest of campus like the diversity within Athletics? “I believe it is possible… We need to make sure they have a voice and thats what we’ve been trying to do with the diversity breakfast and other workshops.” Wright does make the point that athletes at EKU are recruited here which is different than just general enrollment. But again she brought up that diversity is not just about race. “You’re not going to be in a room with someone who is everything just like you,” she explained to me.
The enrollment report only showed the data on race, but there is more diversity than that. It’s also gender, sexual orientation and socio economic backgrounds. It’s life experiences that make us different. So while yes, EKU is lacking on race diversity, its mainly due to the region it lies in. If EKU recruited students like it does athletes, and make sure that the minority students have a voice, then diversity issue at EKU can change.