Kevin Kuehn had never been exposed to much diversity and didn't necessarily want to be.
That was until an extra credit assignment put the history and interdisciplinary studies in social science sophomore at a meeting for the Multi-Racial Unity Living Experience, or MRULE, a group that works to create discussion and friendships between people of different racial backgrounds who live in close proximity at MSU.
"The theme in MRULE is that through controversy, discussion, argument and constructive criticism, you get a lot of truth," Kuehn said. "With that truth, the light goes on and you can't turn it off. You've just got to keep going and learning."
MRULE's director, Jeanne Gazel, began the group as a social experiment to get people of different racial backgrounds to communicate and form friendships. This year, the former experiment is celebrating its 10th anniversary and earned Gazel the university's Excellence in Diversity award. More than 100 members each year gather in groups from East Complex, South Complex and Brody Complex to talk about current events and social issues, such as segregation and racism.
Spirited conversation fills the meetings and few topics are taboo, said Gazel, who also is an integrative studies in social science instructor.
A Brody Complex MRULE meeting last Monday focused on immigration bills in Congress and many members loudly disagreed with each other. Later, the same members fell into easy laughter and conceded different points.
"I love the contradiction," said Sylvester Yavana, a political theory and constitutional democracy sophomore. "Somebody is going to push somebody. You're able to become comfortable with something that was uncomfortable. We're able to question, 'Why do you feel this way?'"
It wasn't easy to create MRULE and it hasn't been easy to maintain the group's diversity, Gazel said.
Segregation patterns in Michigan's cities carry over to MSU's campus and it has been increasingly difficult to bring diverse groups together for MRULE meetings because of residence hall demographics, Gazel said. For a recent meeting, Gazel brought MRULE members from South Complex to Brody Complex's meeting to broaden the racial makeup.
Gazel distributed e-mail surveys to East and South complex dorm residents during the first two weeks of April about this issue. MRULE will host focus groups Wednesday for dorm residents to discuss these issues and what they'd like to change on campus. The meetings are already filled to capacity, Gazel said.
"Will students benefit from meaningful relationships with people of different backgrounds? Research points to yes," Gazel said. "Why on earth, if we're a world-class research institution, would we not pay attention to that research?"
MRULE members said many don't see the importance of breaking traditional racial barriers.
"You have to care because racism is here for a reason; segregation is here for a reason," said Amy Yousif, an education senior. "You can't say, 'I want equality.' Unless you do something, you don't care."
Paul Brown, a social work and Spanish senior, said MRULE can be a solution.
"In my opinion, the solution is dialogue," Brown said. "That's the core of MRULE."
Spanish junior Mary Cartier said waiting until college to teach students about diversity is too late, but it is better late, than never.
"Don't lose faith in 18 or 19 year olds," she said. "They can change — I did. That's what keeps us going."
