“The University of Denver community is strongly committed to the pursuit of excellence by including and integrating individuals who represent different groups as defined by race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, age, disability, national origin and religion.” Excerpt from Office of the Chancellor’s Diversity Statement

It is in fact true that DU has some level of diversity. According to DU’s new Web site, approximately 15 percent of the student body is a “student of color.”

DU is not a cultural melting pot, but I will give the university the benefit of the doubt.

I want to be very clear; I fully support a diverse community in all aspects of the word. Despite the efforts to incorporate students from different backgrounds into the community, there is an alarming degree of homogeneity in quite possibly the most dangerous area possible: thought.

I have been a student here since fall quarter 2007. I have to admit, I have learned a great deal, and my eyes have been opened to quite a few different aspects of life and its nuances.

However, I am extremely troubled by the average student’s lack of an independent mind.

All too often it is the case that in a class of 20 people, 18 agree with everything their professor says, and the lone dissenters (assuming they even exist) are vilified for expressing their disagreement.

Be honest. You know you have witnessed, been targeted, or have even been a part of this phenomenon.

Apparently, diversity in opinion has no place at DU.

Consider how many Jewish people attend school here.

I have never seen a pro-Israel rally, or for that matter, an anti-Hamas rally.

I get that there is an emphasis on being politically correct at this school, but to some extent, this priority begins to oppress free thought.

My point is this. It is great that DU tries to integrate persons of other cultures, races and backgrounds.

However, they leave something to be desired when it comes to generating an academic environment that is different from your run-of-the-mill liberal arts school.

Most of the things we learn here will be irrelevant to what we end up doing in our future.

College is supposed to teach you how to think critically and analyze the broader trends that are occurring in the background of our lives.

Unfortunately, there are quite a few students here that have only learned to keep silent and believe what they’re told. That, to me, does not constitute an education.

Say what you will about what I believe, but don’t expect me to just bend over and take it.