se upper level positions are being filled by more and more women doesn't really mean that they are gaining on men, but that they are keeping up with men; not exactly what should be the outcome of efforts concerning equality among men, women, or minorities.

Decision-making is an important part of how an organization is run, and related to power as well. In order to be rational decision-makers, people have to be rational actors; which is impossible for humans to obtain according to Conrad and Poole (P. 274). Our ability to make decisions is "limited by our analytical skills and by a variety of situational factors." This means that our information is not complete enough to make rational decisions, due to time restraints and other factors such as gatekeepers. Gatekeepers are those internal members who have the ability to distribute information, and in some cases filter it. See how this relates to diversity? When a member has a problem communicating with a minority or someone of the opposite sex, then that person plays the role of a gatekeeper; if the member cannot even communicate well with the other member it is unlikely that he or she will able to relay all necessary information to make good decisions. This can be done on a consc!

Alma College is different from other organizations in their positions on managing diversity. Students pay to go here, we are not employees who are willing to accept many policies on such things as diversity, in order to keep our standing in the organization. Most of us can easily go to another college if we are forced to accept something that we may not like. As stated before in any environment where students are involved, issues of diversity and equality cannot be forced upon the students. Unlike employees, we are paying to go here; we can almost be considered customers. However, diversity must be addressed on campus, but through awareness, and implementing programs that attract and bring more diversity into the student body. If Alma College refuses to do this or fails to their future will not be prosperous. With more and more minorities and diverse people attending college, the addressing of diversity is not only in the college's best interest, but the longevity of AC depen!

tty's. My roommate had several friends from high school come up to visit for the night, and one of them was an African American male. On a visit to Scotty's to get some snacks, we were questioned about taking a stick of beef jerky. The cashier said that she thought she saw us put some inside our coat, but we honestly didn't. She commented that her boss would review the tapes tomorrow and took down all of our names in case they saw something on the tapes. We never heard from anyone from Marriot, not even an apology. Now, I honestly only think we were questioned because we had an African American male with us. I was not impressed to say the least. The organizational conflict is just like that in a business sense. Minorities or women may be questioned or observed more than an Anglo male, because people do not have the same confidence in them as they do in white or "normal" members.

The recent threat on campus should raise many flags that the college's efforts to manage diversity are not very successful. Alma College cannot educate people on diversity if it is not all that diverse. The only way to establish acceptance of people who are different from you is to become acquainted with them. The college should really concentrate on "recruiting" a diverse stu

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 2176
Approximate Pages = 9 (250 words per page double spaced)