Looking around the classroom, it may not seem apparent to some people but there is definitely a change taking place. Maybe it is more obvious to those who are a part of the change or perhaps it has happened so steadily that no one has noticed.

However, the shift in racial make-up of classrooms is something that is a significant part of history that current students are undergoing. It is not just an integration issue, as integration has been a part of the public school system for many years, but multiculturalism at its best.

The exposure to various cultures and ethnicities is an experience for students and instructors alike, adding to their educational repertoire.

Something that seems as minute as name pronunciation can in fact make a difference. Senior, Simon Magsuci, a Filipino American can remember when instructors would not even attempt to pronounce his name.

“Maybe 1 out of 10 teachers could say it when I was younger in school and now I’d say it’s about 2 out of 10,” said Magsuci.This improvement can signify exposure and exposure can signify a change.

When an instructor encounters students who are from a culture different than the majority, then the instructor too is able to learn. Communication Studies professor, Dr. Peter Nwosu has noticed the change on Sac State’s campus.

“I notice more blacks and people of color than when I first started teaching here in 1991. It’s noticeable on campus.” said Dr. Nwosu.

The number of enrolled CSUS students who are categorized as Caucasian was at 47 percent for fall 2001.This number is slightly higher than for the fall 1998, when it was 53 percent. What does this mean for people of color?It means seeing people who look like you around you and diminishing the “different” title that is often given to people of color.

Always being the “different” person can be an uncomfortable feeling as well as bring undue pressure to conform. That feeling of having to check who you are at the door and blend in with the majority can not only rob the said person of color but it also robs the people who may be the majority.

Multiculturalism gives the majority a chance to learn and understand the unique pieces of culture that they might never have been exposed to. We should embrace multiculturalism, and be proud to be a part of it.

One of the fortunate things about living in California is that the state is often a beacon for change. Students are on their way to living the dream that Martin Luther King, Jr. and Gandhi spoke about. It is not a perfect world and maybe we have a long way to go to but we are seeing the results of real change.

Look around and take notice of what is happening around you. Appreciate the differences that make people unique. It is this change, which marks the beginning of a truly rich nation.