Article By: Kris Callahan
Last Thursday, I had the privilege to attend a Black Student Union (BSU) workshop focusing on a book by Lull Mengesha, The Only Black Student. The event consisted of various skits on how to “survive” in college and effectively make yourself heard on campus.
Lull Mengesha asked the students in the packed room if they had experienced any time at Suffolk that had made them feel uncomfortable when race was put into the equation.
Every black student raised their hand.
As I listened to their stories, concerns and experiences at Suffolk University, I found myself nodding my head along to the discussions that followed and came to a conclusion: diversity groups are misrepresented at Suffolk University.
Every student with a story had the same overall experience: my peers were the “only black students” in their classes, and felt uncomfortable whenever race was brought up, because every white student would turn around and look at them. In addition, the students also felt they had to be the representative of their race because of the stereotypes and prejudices white students often place on them.
After the event, I realized that I will never truly know what some of my Black, Hispanic, Asian and all other culturally diverse peers face not only on the Suffolk University campus, but all across this country. However, the event provided me with the information that I believe is needed on this campus. I believe the event gave me a better understanding of what my peers face.
Ironically, at the same time the BSU event was taking place, SGA was debating on a recent amendment that would expand the number of Senate seats within SGA to diversity group members. The amendment, which was passed last year, would allow four cultural diversity Senate seats. The current allotment is an embarrassing one seat.
The amendment does not lay out any qualifications as to who can fill these seats, so any theories about “white students” not being able to fill the seats because they are white are simply untrue, because the amendment allows anyone to have these positions just as long as they are an active member of a cultural diversity group.
One Senator, whom published in both the Journal and the Suffolk Voice that the passed legislation “was done with the intention of creating a permanent voting block that could be considered no less than affirmative action seats.”
Wow. No wonder why BSU, Rainbow Alliance and countless other cultural diversity members feel misrepresented on this campus.
To call this “affirmative action” is very concerning. By fighting this amendment, diversity members perceive this Senator as trying to block them from the board of SGA.
I asked Alexa Golden, President of the Rainbow Alliance how she felt about this “affirmative action” quote and she stated, “A few diversity group members and I read this article together and when this statement was read, the reaction wasn’t good, to say the least. Many thought that it was a clear sign that their presence was unwelcome in SGA and some claimed that they will feel more uncomfortable than ever before around certain SGA members.”
In addition, BSU President Jessica Ross said, “It would be disappointing to see a student organization strike down an amendment meant to promote a more inclusive campus community that truly accepts, appreciates and celebrates diversity.
I know some have said the amendment is nothing more than ‘affirmative action.’ When hearing this statement all I can say is, what’s wrong with affirmative action? The adverse affects of institutionalized racism are systemic and still hinder equality today. If it had not been for affirmative action, I may not have been able to attend this University and seek the opportunities my ancestors were not given.”
I told myself I would ignore the rest of this and let it go, however, when diverse members of Suffolk who are not represented equally to begin with are in danger of losing a higher form of representation on this campus, I will not stand for it.
These are some words I will not forget: “fight every fight like you can win.” I will continue to stand firmly behind those words and I ask all of my peers, whether it be the BSU, the Rainbow Alliance, AAA, SUHA and the countless other diversity groups on this campus whom feel misrepresented, to stand with me in fighting to make your voices heard on this campus, not silenced because certain members decry these opportunities given to you as “no less than affirmative action.”
So, in the words of Against Me!, “Let’s do it all because we have to, not because we know why. Beyond a gender, race and class, we could find what really holds us back. Let’s make everybody sing that they are the beginning and ending of everything. That we are all stronger than everything they taught us that we should fear”
