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Student group addresses diversity, promote awareness by Cindy Abole Public Relations Creating a diverse, open, and intellectually stimulating learning environment is the aim of students and faculty on MUSC’s campus. Students representing their respective colleges and student organizations have teamed  with faculty leaders to create a group whose genuine interest is to enhance diversity and to bridge cultural gaps within the university community. From left are: Scotty Morrow, Alexander Whitley, Peko Tsuji, Valerie Bush, Severine Patat, David Elgarico, and Diversity's Laurine Charles. The nine-member MUSC Student Diversity Advisory Committee is a subcommittee of the University's Diversity Council. The council was created to help guide policy-making and to develop strategies that would promote diversity and cultural competence throughout the activity community. “The committee has given thoughtful consideration to the meaning of diversity and developed a broadly inclusive working definition,” said Laurine Charles, associate director, Office of Diversity. “The group’s aim is to come to an understanding of its meaning among students. Through their own interaction and understanding, these students have learned a lot from each other, beyond race and gender, as individuals with diverse backgrounds, opinions and ideas.” The student group formed last spring and meets monthly to discuss priorities and develop recommendations relating to campus diversity and student issues. Ultimately, the group wants to unite people across campus to promote exchange and meaningful interaction. “Our efforts have  focused on how we all understand and define diversity,” said Severine Patat, a College of Graduate Studies student and an International Association represent-ative to the group.  “We’re taking baby steps in this process, which allows us to proceed cautiously in all of our efforts, making sure that we involve students from all groups and backgrounds.”  Valerie T. West, Ed.D., associate provost for education and student life, is encouraged by this group’s deter-mination and progress. “Too seldom, we see this level of meaningful interaction and dialogue between this array of student groups,” West said. “These students are providing real leadership by helping us define student perspectives on diversity.” Both West, Charles and other members of the Diversity Council hope that this level of interaction will help segway into broader efforts that will improve communications among groups, develop multicultural programs and activities and contribute to strategies that will enhance  minority  faculty, staff and students.  To assess the campus's and students' needs, the group is finalizing plans to administer a diversity survey to students in the coming weeks. The survey is expected to provide valuable,  anonymous feedback of student’s thoughts and opinions regarding cultural beliefs, values and expect-ations. “I’m pleased and impressed with this group’s enthusiasm and efforts,” West said. “Its work helps make our administrative leadership’s job easier by providing good information that will help improve cultural awareness of students as individuals and ultimately, as better practitioners in health care.” Student Diversity Advisory Committee Alexander Whitley, College of Graduate Studies, MUSC Student Government Association (SGA); Valerie Bush, College of Pharmacy, SGA; Severine Patat, College of Graduate Studies, International Association; Peko Tsuji, College of Graduate Studies, International Association; David Elgarico, College of Health Professions, Multicultural Student Advisory Board (MSAB); Scotty Morrow, College of Graduate Studies; Nichole Childs, College of Nursing, MSAB; Leeya Pinder, College of Medicine, MSAB; and Brandon Cox, College of Medicine, Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Professionals in Medicine.       Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to petersnd@musc.edu or catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Community Press at 849-1778.