Art by Ally Armstrong
Diversity is the theory, and inclusion is putting that into action.
Home to approximately 3,000 undergraduate students on campuses stretching across four continents and six countries, Pepperdine University is an institution with a mission to expose students to a world of tradition, culture and ideas different from their own. This mission, seeking to unite people from all over the world, begins in Malibu.
Inclusivity is the practice of breaking the barriers that separate people. At Pepperdine, inclusion begins and ends with the actions of a whole community embracing the diversity between peoples.
Hosting more than 100 clubs and organizations, which seek to celebrate the diversity of students on campus, Pepperdine makes an effort to prioritize and promote the inclusion of students outside the classroom. At Pepperdine University, the opportunities available to get involved and cultivate inclusion are vital in preparing students to take on global leadership roles that will change the world.
Whether students are looking for a community that shares the same cultural background or lifestyle, there is something for everyone. These organizations provide all students with different interests the opportunity to be involved and represented on campus. May that be racial, ethnic, gender, religious, cultural, socio-economic, class or ability representation, Pepperdine will work to ensure its life and longevity.
Pepperdine’s commitment to diversity and inclusion thrives on the involvement of a motivated, understanding and faith-driven body.
With the involvement of the Intercultural Affairs office on campus, many events are held throughout the school year to bring these organizations to the forefront of Pepperdine student life. Determined to deepen students’ understanding of shared identities, provide perspective on other cultures and encourage community cultivated dialogue, the Intercultural Affairs office is the backbone of Pepperdine’s mission for inclusivity.
Pepperdine Intercultural Affairs helps organize events to support the many clubs and organizations on campus. Whether that is participating in diverse cultural heritage dinners with the Korean Student Association, attending talks on intersectional identities, participating in the discussion on sexual assault with Take Back the Night or joining a historically Black fraternity or sorority, the opportunities are actually endless.
By hosting events around campus, Pepperdine is providing students and faculty the opportunity to learn more about a culture, identity, or movement that is unfamiliar. This opens up channels of dialogue between the community and works to cultivate an environment of inclusion and understanding from within.
Through the many clubs and organizations offered on campus, the opportunity to create inclusive environments is readily available. Pepperdine prioritizes the wants and needs of its community by providing students every possible option, including the one to create a club that is not yet represented.
It isn’t always easy to find a community within an undergraduate population, but some of the pressures can be alleviated when students are made a priority. Pepperdine is committed to preparing students to take on the world with open minds and hearts. The opportunity to get involved on campus and to interact with many different cultural, ideological and religious groups, seeks to create a worldview ready for leadership. Join a club, rush a Greek chapter, create a new organization, be present in the community at Pepperdine University and see the power of inclusion at work.
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