Diversity is an often discussed issue on our campus. Not known for the greatest variety, Pepperdine has room for improvement. Having said that, I don't think any group is marginalized. Dozens of campus groups are available to join for a variety of ethnic backgrounds, professional interests, and leisure preferences. The LGBT group would be the only group who may argue that they are marginalized, seeing as how Pepperdine is a private university which affirms Christian values it considers discordant with homosexuality and, thus, does not currently have an official, university-recognized LGBT group. There is an unofficial group, but it must meet off campus. The administration is working toward greater equality through a program with students called "Building Bridges," and the issue is discussed much more openly now than in the past. There is room for more progress and discussion, but I think the most important thing is that no group is treated oppressively, and Pepperdine certainly does not oppress even a group it does not endorse. Some of the most prolific individuals at Pepperdine are also a part of the LGBT group.
Pepperdine is an informal campus, in attitude and attire (we're in a beach city, after all). Socioeconomic status sometimes begs to differ (we're in Malibu, after all), with many students driving much nicer cars than their professors. As a proud driver of a Toyota, I don't feel judged at all by those with a brand-new Mercedes. Some people may roll their eyes at the guy who was given a Maserati by his parents, but whether someone has money or not, I don't think people are treated all that differently.
The same goes for religion. While many students are religious, especially non-denominational Christian or Church of Christ, I know people who are Muslims, Mormons, Catholics and atheists. These people all came to Pepperdine of their own volition and, while their respective religions may not be the majority, I have never heard any of them express frustration over the religious component of Pepperdine, a component woven into the fabric of the university through its mission statement. I do think we could have more education in comparative religions so we can converse with these students more knowledgeably.
Politically, sometimes we're apathetic. The College Republicans have a strong enough presence, but it's the College Libertarians who have experienced the biggest spike in activity over the last couple of years. The Young Democrats exist, I think, but they're not very active. Stereotypically, we're a conservative school, though we're considered fairly liberal among very conservative schools. Liberal students have sometimes expressed frustration at the "bubble" of worldviews people tend to stay within. The editorial section of the newspaper sometimes showcases a good balance of political views.