Life as a Minority | Photo by Emily Mancuso | The Wright State Guardian
On Tuesday, April 16, the African American Residential Caucus welcomed students of all backgrounds to discuss experience as a minority on campus and suggest changes to residential staff.
Importance of the event
Students and AARC leadership gathered in the Honors Plaza for the “Life on Campus as a Minority” event. This was the first time AARC hosted this event.
Junior Communication Studies major Coree Smith is the president of AARC. Preceding the event, Smith shed light on what the AARC does.
“AARC is a housing organization that is dedicated to Black and Brown students on campus,” Smith said. “We just want to make sure that Black and Brown students and minorities are feeling safe on campus because sometimes there is a lot of tension because of the color of our skin.”
Smith said that the purpose of the event was to help students to feel safe and comfortable on campus. Smith feels that AARC has a family vibe because of its smaller size.
AARC Vice President, junior Sydney Grays, reiterates the desire to create a comfortable environment for students.
“You shouldn’t have to dread coming to campus,” Grays said.
Smith and Grays, along with the rest of the AARC executive board, worked together to prepare the event a few months prior, agreeing the topic was an important one to discuss, a topic that is often “brushed-off.” The organization previously hosted “Brown Table Talks” back in January, but this event was the first to explicitly and directly address “Life on Campus as a Minority.”
Leaning into the discomfort
A small group of students, including students from AARC leadership and students of diverse backgrounds, discussed their experience being a minority on campus. Students were welcome to partake in provided snacks anytime during the event.
Prior to the event, AARC’s Shanaia Hunt discussed personal hopes for the discussion.
“I hope to see issues that are scared to be brought up or uncomfortable to be brought up,” Hunt said. “I just want everyone to branch out and say whatever is bothering them.”
Smith repeated that the discussion was a safe space for attendees to discuss any topics that they wished to discuss, including issues of prejudice and discrimination.
Smith began the discussion with introductions. The group then discussed ability- and racially-influenced incidents they have experienced on campus.
Other members of the discussion offered support and advice as students discussed their negative experiences with roommates, Residential Assistants and other people on campus.
Residential staff listened in, also offering advice and taking in suggestions for possible changes to WSU’s current residential system and processes.
Overall, the event was successful in providing a safe and supportive environment, and AARC plans to host another “Living on Campus as a Minority” event in the future.
