Inside Iowa State Nov. 10, 1995 Survey: Students Want More Diverse Interaction by Diana Pounds Most Iowa State students would like to have more personal interaction with students of different races and ethnic groups, according to a 1993 survey. Sixty-four percent of approximately 1,000 students participating in a climate survey in November 1993 agreed they would like to have more personal interaction with those in other ethnic groups. International students were the most eager for contact with other groups, with 82 percent indicating a desire for more interaction. Seventy-four percent of ethnic minority students (includes African Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanic Americans and Native Americans) and 61 percent of White American students wanted more interaction with those in other groups. The Steering Committee on Diversity coordinated the student survey, along with surveys of faculty and staff, to assess the university climate for diversity and provide a baseline from which to measure future changes in the climate. Reports on the faculty and staff surveys were released last summer. CLIMATE 'FAIR' to 'GOOD' Like faculty and staff who were surveyed, students ranked Iowa State's climate for diversity between "fair" and "good." On a scale in which "fair" was "2" and "good" was "3," students collectively gave the university climate a 2.5. The climate received the poorest ratings from African American students, who ranked it at 1.9, just below fair. Following are selected results of the survey. More results are available in the Nov. 10 World Wide Web edition of Inside Iowa State. The complete report on the student survey is on reserve in Parks Library. To receive a copy of the report, contact Mary Ann Evans, 4-5883. -- 79 percent of students agreed that diversity is good for ISU and ought to be promoted. -- 41 percent felt that Iowa State had achieved a positive climate for diversity; 29 percent disagreed. -- 51 percent of all students agreed that there is a need for more diversity at Iowa State. Female students (62 percent) and minority students (73 percent) were more likely to agree more diversity is needed. -- 46 percent of all students and 67 percent of minority students said they often or very often socialize with students of racial or ethnic backgrounds unlike their own. -- 17 percent of all students and 59 percent of African American students said they had felt pressure from those in their own ethnic groups not to socialize or date members of other groups while at Iowa State. SEXUAL HARASSMENT -- 18 percent of female students said they had been sexually harassed at Iowa State over the past five years, with most citing other students as the harassers. The survey didn't define sexual harassment, but according to the university definition, it may include unwelcome sexual advances and sexually oriented joking, verbal abuse or pictures that create a hostile environment. -- 26 percent of all students and 40 percent of minority students said they had experienced discrimination at ISU over the previous five years. -- Only 20 percent agreed that students from diverse groups communicate well with each other at ISU. -- 60 percent of students said they were satisfied with their situations at Iowa State and 22 percent said they were dissatisfied. The least satisfied ethnic group was African Americans, with 31 percent registering satisfaction and 46 percent expressing dissatisfaction. FACULTY AND STAFF SENSITIVITY -- Sixty-eight percent of all students agreed that most faculty were approachable outside the classroom. Fewer female students (61 percent) and minority students (52 percent) felt that most faculty were approachable. Nearly 73 percent of male students found most faculty approachable. -- 50 percent of all students and 38 percent of minority students felt faculty had a strong desire to develop a climate that supports diversity. -- 39 percent of female students felt that most faculty were sensitive to issues and concerns of female students; one- fourth of minority students felt that most faculty were sensitive to issues and concerns of minority students. SURVEY METHODOLOGY Surveys were sent to a sample of approximately 3,000 students, and the overall response rate was 33.5 percent. Results were weighted to account for differences in sampling and response rates for gender and ethnicity. The approximately 375 minority students responding to the survey included African Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanic Americans and Native Americans. __________ University Relations Iowa State University