For years, Nashville has been called a “melting pot” due to its diverse citizens. Going into the 2016-17 school year, Lipscomb can share that claim with its most diverse student body to date.
Lipscomb now has a student body in which nearly one-fourth of all students come from a diverse background. That student body includes students from 49 states and 47 different countries.
Lipscomb’s Director of Intercultural Development Lisa Steele has helped in the school’s effort to grow the rate of diversity on campus.
“It has definitely been a conscious effort,” Steele said. “We have grown 350 percent since 2005. Every year our diversity numbers have grown.”
Nashville, where one out of every ten citizens comes from a diverse background, attracts diversity due to the many opportunities that can be found in the city. Similarly, Lipscomb attracts many as students from diverse backgrounds are not only given opportunities but are also helped every step of the way. Steele thinks it speaks volumes about the school as a whole to be a place where these students want to come.
“We are not just wanting students here, but are also willing to support them with services,” Steele said. “A lot of universities bring these students to campus, but then they’re on their own. Here we supply them with encouragement, advocate and support them.”
Included in those different opportunities is the various on-campus organizations that have been started to help international and students from diverse backgrounds connect with each other.
Senior political science student Carlos Ruiz Oyala is the current president and co-founder of Lipscomb’s chapter of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC). LULAC was brought to campus earlier this year and is currently the first chapter in Tennessee.
LULAC looks to help integrate and connect Latin American students with various events on campus.
“LULAC is the oldest civil rights organization for Latinos in the United States,” Oyala said. “Last semester, we went to Washington D.C. and went to the conference and met people from all over the U.S. and many other colleges and universities.”
While LULAC was founded to unite Latin American citizens, they welcome students from all other backgrounds to join them at their events. Oyala and LULAC hope to grow LULAC outside of just Lipscomb’s campus.
“We are excited to work here at Lipscomb and spread the word,” Oyala said. “Not only around Lipscomb, but around Nashville and around Tennessee, since we are the only chapter.”
LULAC’s first event will be on Monday, as they will come together to watch the first presidential debate and discuss the topics debated. LULAC will hold events throughout the school year to bring the student body together.
Photo courtesy of Karina Gutierrez.