The purpose of minority groups on campus can sometimes be miscued, making others think these groups purposely separate themselves from the majority on campus.

Leaders of these minority organizations want to make it clear that their goals are not to separate themselves, but to help diversify and unify the campus community as a whole.

Jin-hee Lee, assistant professor for the history department and adviser for the Asian American Association, said the single most important goal is to create a community where people see mutual support and have a sense of community.

“The reason for minority groups precisely is because of the experience they share,” she said. “By getting together with people who understand similar experiences, or who are interested in those issues, it helps them to support their lives here on campus.”

DeMarlon Brown, president of the Black Student Union, said people who say minority groups are separating themselves from the rest of the campus do not understand they are not the majority.

“It’s much easier to say that people are separating themselves when you can look straight, left and right and see a person of your kind,” he said. “It’s not easy for us.”

Brown said some black students find it much easier to receive important information from the organization when it comes to events and educational opportunities.

“We find our members scholarships,” he said. “We do Panther Service Day, and go to the nursing home and just sit there and play checkers with them.”

Brown said it would be difficult to cope on campus if minority groups were not organized.

“It wouldn’t be no minorities on campus,” he said. “It would be very slim. You couldn’t come to this campus and have no one to relate to.”

Lee said people who criticize a minority group’s existence assume everyone to be the same.

“That is not true,” she said. “There is no such concept of majority if there is no minority.”

Lee said minority organizations help their members realize they can also become important leaders throughout the campus community.

“Usually they are in the corner as a minority and feel they cannot be the leader in the majority,” she said. “Groups can create opportunities for them to see what they can fully accomplish.”

Timothy Martin, an Eastern alumnus, said he was a member of the Asian American Association and gained a lot experience from being a part of the organization.

“I think it provided a community, a forum where people of all these similar experiences could all meet each other,” he said.

Martin said because of the small population of Asians on campus, it gave a sense of belonging.

“You are tapping into a community that is otherwise difficult to find,” he said.

Krishna Thomas, co-adviser for the Asian American Association, said another reason for minority organizations is to get rid of certain stereotypes.

“There’s a lot of stereotypes on campus,” she said. “One main goal is to combat these stereotypes. Not all Asians or Asian Americans know how to kung fu. It is not air-born.”

Thomas said, personally, she does not have a problem with minority student groups.

“I think it becomes a problem, for example, when a minority only identifies themselves only with that minority group,” she said. “As a group you have to be open and be receptive when other backgrounds come to your community. You have to create a nurturing atmosphere.”

Thomas said while minority organizations are assets to the campus, students and minority groups have a responsibility to diversify the community.

“It’s a two-way street,” she said. “You can’t make people learn if they don’t want to. Also you can’t expect people to know about your culture if you do not teach other people.”

Jessica Leggin can be reached at 581-7942 or at jmleggin@eiu.edu.