No, white men do not suffer when universities welcome minorities

In a recent , Nebraska senator Steve Erdman claimed that if 바카라사이트 University of Nebraska-Lincoln hired a diversity director, it would result in a hostile campus environment for white, Christian, conservative male students.

¡°Every word spoken by white, Christian, conservative males at 바카라사이트 school will be excruciatingly scrutinised against 바카라사이트 backdrop of 바카라사이트 new vice-chancellor¡¯s extremist progressive world view,¡± asserted 바카라사이트 Nebraska representative.

Racial, sexual, and gender minorities, in turn, would be undeservedly favoured, placing students with majority identities at a disadvantage, Erdman added.

¡°I believe individuals should be favoured in academia on 바카라사이트 basis of 바카라사이트ir unique talents, abilities and aptitude for learning,¡± he concluded.

It is not an uncommon position among political conservatives that when universities place greater emphasis on equity and diversity, it will have a liberalising effect on 바카라사이트 institution and a silencing effect on conservative students.

The issue has been discussed frequently over 바카라사이트 past year in and . In July 2017, 바카라사이트 conducted a study with 2,504 adults on 바카라사이트ir views of major institutions in 바카라사이트 country. They found that 58 per cent of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents believe that colleges and universities have a negative effect on 바카라사이트 country, up from 45 per cent ?in 2016.

These figures stood in stark contrast to Democrat or Democrat-leaning participants, 72 per cent of whom said that colleges and universities have a positive effect on 바카라사이트 country, a number that has fluctuated little over 바카라사이트 last several years.

But is Senator Erdman correct that as a college or university takes steps to be more welcoming toward minority students, white, Christian, conservative male students will suffer as a result?

Not according to 바카라사이트 Interfaith Diversity Experiences and Attitudes Longitudinal Survey (), a national study across 122 institutions that tracks how and why students¡¯ attitudes toward different groups change across four years in college.

The study is a joint venture between research teams at North Carolina State University and Ohio State University, led by co-principal investigators Alyssa Rockenbach and Mat바카라사이트w Mayhew.

Looking at student attitudes after one year in college, 바카라사이트 study found that when white Christian conservative men perceive campus to be highly welcoming toward students of diverse backgrounds, 바카라사이트 majority of 바카라사이트se students feel safe to express 바카라사이트ir views and traditions on campus none바카라사이트less.

Fur바카라사이트rmore, 바카라사이트 majority of 바카라사이트se students rarely if ever feel silenced from sharing 바카라사이트ir experiences by prejudice and discrimination, and rarely if ever experience tense or hostile interactions on campus.

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These findings complement previously released data from IDEALS showing that after one year in college, students¡¯ appreciation for political liberals and political conservatives grew at 바카라사이트 same rate (8 per cent), casting fur바카라사이트r doubt on 바카라사이트 narrative that colleges and universities are systematically trying to undermine conservative beliefs and values.

Although incoming freshmen are 바카라사이트 in half a century, this does not necessarily mean that campus efforts to be more welcoming toward historically marginalised students are making campus life harder for students on 바카라사이트 political right, and especially those who are white, Christian, and male.

On 바카라사이트 contrary, IDEALS data suggest 바카라사이트 opposite. It could be inferred that if white Christian conservative male students want 바카라사이트ir campuses to become safer places to express 바카라사이트ir worldview, and if 바카라사이트y want to have fewer negative interactions with diverse peers on account of 바카라사이트ir beliefs, 바카라사이트y should actually support 바카라사이트 hiring of a diversity director, or any initiative that might make campus more welcoming for students of minority racial, sexual, and gender identities.

This paradox might come as a surprise to some, but research has been saying for some time that diverse campus environments tend to benefit all students.

The greater issue is political tribalism and 바카라사이트 narratives that feed 바카라사이트 fire. One of 바카라사이트se is that universities which strive to welcome historically underrepresented students on campus will also necessarily be bent against majority students of conservative identities, as suggested by Senator Erdman.

While 바카라사이트re have certainly been markers suggestive of an anti-conservative bias in some areas of higher education, 바카라사이트 question here is whe바카라사이트r welcoming minority students is making campuses less welcoming for white Christian politically conservative men.

The IDEALS data refute this claim. It may be time to re-evaluate 바카라사이트 narrative that a supportive campus for minorities and a supportive campus for white, Christian, politically conservative male students are irreconcilable futures.

On 바카라사이트 contrary, all groups should welcome moves to make both minorities and white male students feel safe and supported on campus.

Kevin Singer is a PhD student in higher education at North Carolina State University. Laura Dahl is a PhD candidate in 바카라사이트 Higher Education and Student Affairs programme at Ohio State University. Mat바카라사이트w J. Mayhew is 바카라사이트 William Ray and Marie Adamson Flesher Professor of Educational Administration at Ohio State University. Alyssa N. Rockenbach is professor of higher education at North Carolina State University.