MSU has several programs for its diverse students. Some are universitywide, while others are found within different departments.

“These programs … help to tell the MSU story in a way that intrigues diverse students and is inviting and supportive to programming on campus,” said Paulette Granberry Russell, director of the Office for Inclusion and Intercultural Initiatives. “(They provide) intellectual vitality and academic support in a range of programs that will also be supportive of diverse campus communities.”

Some Big Ten schools lack the resources and diverse community that’s found at MSU.

The University of Iowa has the lowest number of minority students in the Big Ten, with 9.3 percent in 2007. University of Wisconsin has the second lowest number, with 11.6 percent in 2006.

Michael Barron, director of admissions at Iowa, said the university’s low percentage of minority enrollment can be attributed to the state’s lack of diversity.

“Iowa is a state that is 95 percent white, so we have very few resident minority students that reside here,” Barron said.

“Our region has established an 8.5 percent threshold that they want each institution to achieve. Iowa is the only school to surpass that 8.5 percent. There is no quota or figure we would be satisfied with.”

Anna Gonzalez, associate vice chancellor of student affairs at Illinois, said cultural houses help facilitate diversity at Illinois.

“We have four cultural houses on campus specifically to educate the campus about different cultural and ethnic groups,” she said.

While MSU does not offer cultural houses for specific races and minority groups, it does provide students with other resources, such as the Multicultural Center in the Union.

Living with a homophobic roommate in the first semester of her sophomore year was difficult for social relations and policy junior Lauren Spencer.

“MSU can’t prevent people from being bigoted, but they did a great job handling my roommate situation,” she said.

Spencer, who is a lesbian, is an active member of Same Gender Loving Students of Color and International Students and Allies, or SGL SOCIAL.

Spencer said she chooses not to put herself in situations where she will be discriminated against.

“I’m a minority, but I surround myself with people who are similar to me so I don’t feel ostracized,” she said.

Materials science and engineering junior Liz Castro said she wanted to join a sorority to feel more involved on campus but could not find one that was a good fit for her.

That’s why she and five other girls are working to establish a Lambda Theta Alpha chapter, an academic Latino sorority.

“I’m from New York, where there are not many Latinos,” she said. “Joining groups has helped me meet a lot more people like me.”

While MSU has gone to great lengths to ensure a peaceful and diverse community for students, there is always more work that can be done, Granberry Russell said.

“You have to appreciate the fact that what happens in the largest society has the potential of happening within a community the size of MSU,” she said.

“On any give day, there are 55,000 people between students, faculty and staff on campus. You will experience both the good, and from time to time, the not so good.”

MSU benefits from its diverse community, Granberry Russell said.

“We have a long history and tradition of outreach to diverse populations,” she said. “To nurture relations with students that will bring a range of backgrounds that is reflective of the greater community, and create a campus community that is welcoming and supportive for all students (is important).”

Granberry Russell said it is inevitable that issues will arise regarding any minority group, but MSU is prepared for these challenges.

“Will we have experiences of discomfort based on racial, ethnic, gender, beliefs and sexual orientation? Yes, we will,” she said. “But what we can do is create opportunities to prevent it to the extent that we can.”