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The Cavalier Daily
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Opinion

FINALLY, an intelligent, exciting plan for encouraging diversity comes out of the administration. The new International Residence College on Sprigg Lane will not only accomplish the mission set out for it, it will develop an entirely new, more appropriate mentality for the future of the University.

The initiative is a push toward cultural sharing -- in politically correct speech, it's all the things affirmative action and quotas tried to accomplish without success, but wrapped up in a prettier and much more effective package. Three hundred and fifty people, including 60 lucky first-year students, will come together in Sprigg Lane Residences starting next year to form a microcosm of the world we live in today.

The push to develop such a living situation was a result of one of President John T. Casteen III's four initiatives for the University. He, like many others who helped this situation to achieve critical mass, recognized that for the University to remain on top of the collegiate scene, we not only needed to keep a high level of academic achievement, but also an expanded context in a shrinking world. Vice Provost and English Prof. Barbara Nolan put the goal of the college best, saying it would "include the University in a much larger arena ... we have an urgent necessity to connect to the outside world."

This particular urgent necessity, like many things that involve bureaucracy and planning, was almost 10 years in the making. Planning groups, student input and meetings upon meetings were necessary to make the plan a reality, including details like what to do with the people who live there now. Thanks to the squatter rule, the present residents of MGS will be allowed to stay in the new residential college if they choose, but starting next fall they will be asked to commit to the mission of the group.

The composition of the housing area isn't the only thing changing - future plans for the college include a revamping of the grounds surrounding the college, thanks to the Architecture School's landscaping department. That too is one of the subtly different but important aspects of the new atmosphere; even traffic flows around the buildings can make a difference in encouraging mixing and discussion.

Aside from the many planning hoops the potential college jumped through, its very mission will present challenges to its staff and residents. The 60/40 American/foreign student mix will have a lot of adjustment, including an integration of cultures and religious traditions.

According to Area Coordinator Mike Despeaux, religious issues are at the foundation of the preparation for this particular living situation. The Resident Staff members for the new IRC will have additional exposure to such issues in the selection and training process, but their job will still be cut out for them. They, as much as the residents, will be responsible for making this experiment go smoothly and successfully, allowing 350 people from many different cultures to form a cohesive but diverse group.

Some administrative work has yet to be completed, such as choosing a professor to preside as the principal for the new college. Much like the principals of Brown and Hereford, the new leader will live on or near-site, and will be expected to contribute a lot of time and energy to his or her students. That makes their job special, but hard. Despeaux and Nolan assure that much student input will go into the selection of the new principal.

This choice, more than any other residential college, will be essential to the mission of the group. The principal needs to have been there and seen many different cultures. He or she needs to recognize the effects of cultural understanding, but also the problems that can occur when they come together.

He or she also will need a bit of a spirit of adventure and a semi-open door ... not a free pass to all the residents - that's what RAs are for - but enough of an opening to provide the mix of academic and personal exchange that takes the professor-student relationship to a new level and makes residential colleges unique.

Another new level the IRC seeks to achieve is worldwide - Nolan says she wants the students who live there to feel like they have friends - and places to stay - all over the world. "We hope there will be friendships developing that will allow for travel back and forth," plus will give those who studied abroad a support structure and a chance to share their experiences.

Much of the credit for this exciting new project goes to the residents of Mosaic House - the precursor to the IRC. Mosaic House will be integrated into the IRC, but will maintain its own identity.

In the meantime, those 40 students will provide leadership and inspiration to the 350 new entrants to the intercultural community. Their beginning and the continuation of the IRC is just what Charlottesville needs to step into this shrinking and essentially internationalized world. The IRC, providing a new living experience, a new home for the international studies library, and even a place for visiting international scholars to share their talents further, is a necessary next step to ensuring that the University stay on top of the globalization of the future. Hopefully more students will recognize not only the value of a new residential college, but also pick up on the importance of voluntarily incorporating diversity into their daily lives.

(Emily Harding's column appears Wednesdays in The Cavalier Daily.)

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