Jessica Joe - DEI's impact on Cultural and Religious Diversity

At Mississippi State University, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) are talked about a lot, and there’s effort being made to create an environment where people feel seen and supported. But when it comes to really celebrating students’ cultural and religious traditions, especially in their everyday life, there’s still a long way to go. 

One of the more visible things MSU does is Unity Month, which happens every April. It’s a time when the university highlights different backgrounds through events like the International Fiesta and Interfaith Fair. These are fun, meaningful events where students get to show off their cultures, share their traditions, and help others learn in a way that’s interactive and not just informational. There’s music, food, dancing, clothing, and conversations. It really feels like the whole campus comes alive, and it’s a great way to bring people together. 

And honestly the entire Unity Month does feel intentional. It’s not just some poster in the hallway; it’s something the university promotes and invests in. For that month, there’s a strong sense of community. People show up, ask questions, and get exposed to cultures and perspectives they may have never experienced before. That kind of atmosphere is what DEI is supposed to feel like; open, inclusive, and respectful. 

But here’s where it falls short: outside of Unity Month or other big events, there’s not much happening on a regular basis. Students who celebrate different cultural or religious holidays often must handle that on their own. The university might technically allow students to request time off or ask for flexibility, but nothing is done proactively. There’s no outreach, no campus-wide acknowledgment when those holidays happen not even a “Happy Diwali” email or a “Good luck on your fast” message during Ramadan. 

Cultural organizations on campus do what they can, they plan events, host celebrations, and try to bring people together, but that’s all student led. It’s students putting in the work to represent their cultures and create space for themselves and others. The university itself isn’t doing much to support or amplify that. There’s no personalized message from leadership, no special programming, no changes in the dining halls to reflect global holidays. None of that. 

And that kind of silence can feel really loud. It’s not about wanting special treatment. It’s just about being seen and feeling at home in Mississippi State. Having your holiday, your tradition, your way of life acknowledged even in a small way goes a long way in making you feel like you belong. And when you don’t see it? It can feel isolated. Like your culture doesn’t matter here unless you go out of your way to explain it or ask for recognition. 

That’s especially true for international students. Being far from home is hard enough, but when the holidays you’ve celebrated your whole life come and go without anyone around you even noticing, it hits differently. You start to feel disconnected not just from your home, but from the people around you. You’re balancing school, homesickness, and trying to stay connected to your culture with little to no help. 

Hearing her story really puts things into perspective. Because for all the big-picture DEI talk, inclusion must show up in the small things too. It’s in the way you greet students during their holidays. It’s in what’s served in the dining hall. It’s in the programming that happens outside of Unity Month, throughout the year, in regular life. 

Right now, MSU is doing some things right but there’s still more that can be done to make students feel like they belong year-round, not just for one month or at a handful of events. Real inclusion means meeting people where they are, celebrating their cultures when it matters to them, and not waiting for students to take the lead every time. 

This campus is filled with students from all over the world, with different beliefs, backgrounds, and traditions and that’s something worth recognizing and celebrating in more intentional ways. Whether that’s through simple messages, food options, events, or just creating a more open space for conversations, there are so many ways MSU could better support its students on a daily level.