Collegiate Times

Have you ever walked into Squires and seen one of the many "awareness" flags that decorate the main entrance?

Has it ever made you more aware?

With initiatives such as the Principles of Community, Virginia Tech makes no apologies for its commitment to diversity and respect for different viewpoints. And most Tech students also express an acknowledgment of the importance of being inclusive and non-discriminatory. That's the easy part.

But the more difficult question is whether top-down efforts to raise awareness of the diversity of our campus are effective. Even tolerant members of the Tech community may roll their eyes at the latest school or government-sanctioned block of awareness designed to show our collective appreciation for diversity.

Diversity and international awareness at Tech is more complex than banners and socials. That complexity is part of what makes diversity worthwhile, because it can really engage us in discussion and thought. For an example of this, we can look at the recent protest of the Iranian election on the Tech campus.

On Tuesday, these Iranian Tech members, consisting of mainly grad students and employees, came together in front of Burruss to express their dissatisfaction with their home government and demand their right to a fair vote.

It is one of many events that have Americans paying attention and learning what we have in common with the Iranian people.

This was not merely a scheduled effort to make American students realize that Iran exists and that its people are relatable to us. It was an expression of support for their people back home and a demonstration of the values they hold dear enough to organize such an event. Anyone passing by could talk to a protester and learn more about their experience with the election and the reason they speak out. Anyone could get a glimpse into the struggle a Tech sub-community goes through.

That is the true worth of diversity. It is not mere co-existence that we should be pursuing as an academic community. Public relations campaigns neatly boxed into a set period of time do not convince most that other cultures contribute to our experience at Tech.

But whenever an international or minority student shows solidarity with its people in public and gives others the chance to witness and engage them in deeper questions, it enriches our experience as students entering a globalized society.

Tuesday's protest was the true awareness-raiser for people of Iran. And while we shouldn't begrudge those who mean well by working on the awareness banners and diversity campaigns, we should all make an effort to reach out to these interesting members of the greater Tech community during all times of the year.

Even if there isn't a flag hanging in Squires.

The editorial board is composed of Sara Mitchell, Phillip Murillas, Daniel Lin, and Geri Roberts.