Krishna Thomas thinks there is a vital distinction to be made when it comes to discrimination.

“There is a line between curiosity and discrimination, and it is important to know which is which,” Thomas, the assistant director for faculty development, said.

A panel, comprised of students from Black Student Union and the Asian American Association, discussed the issue of being a minority on campus Monday.

They discussed issues dealing with negative experiences as a result of their culture, how diversity is handled around campus and how Eastern handles diversity.

At the beginning of the discussion, Thomas pointed out that about 10 percent of Eastern’s campus is black, 1 percent is of Asian heritage and less than 1 percent is Hispanic.

Ayaka Hisanaga, an Asian American Association secretary, said she does not feel any negativity towards the fact that she is Japanese. Instead, she finds many students thinking it is cool that she is from Japan.

Keith Wise, vice president of the Black Student Union, said he was used to being called names, but added that it is not the students’ or the university’s fault.

He does not see the negativity in what they say, but instead how naive others are of cultures they are not familiar with.

During Wise’s freshman year, he said, he roomed with a Japanese American and learned more about Japanese culture.

“It made me appreciate and want to learn more about other cultures,” Wise said.

He said he expected the racial negativity to be gone or different at college, but realized that it takes people a little more time to mature than others.

Danny Tran, Asian American Association vice president, said the student groups address diversity on campus, but not so much the administration itself.

He said the administration should let groups know when they want to promote diversity in an effort to work together for a better result.

Tran does not think the university necessarily solves problems but tries to minimize the issues.

Thomas said the university pushes “issues under the rug.”

Everyone on the panel said they would like to see more students get involved in student diversity.

Charrell Barksdale, president of the Black Student Union, said she wants to add a diversity committee to BSU to help bring more diversity to campus.

Hisanaga wants to diversify AAA more and break some of the stereotypes associated with Asians.

Wise said he notices more faculty members “look like you” the farther a student moves up in his or her major. He added he sees the number of minorities at Eastern increasing.

Thomas said minorities need to “see a reflection of themselves in the classroom” by having more minorities teach classes. She added minorities would bring a different perspective into the classroom.

Wise also said he would like to see a greater change within the Charleston community.

Students are aware and accepting of diversity on campus but when he goes into town, he feels like all eyes are on him, Wise added.

Chris Gajda can be reached at 581-7942 or at cmgajda@eiu.edu.