Why does race matter at Saint Louis University? On March 18, SLU held an open forum discussion to find out. This meeting was the third in a three-part series of racial discussions held this semester. An even mix of staff, administrators and students, both graduate and undergraduate, came to discuss why issues of race still need to be scrutinized at SLU. The event turnout totaled about 30 people.
“We often say to people of other races, ‘I don’t see race when I look at you,’ and we think that is a good thing,” Karla Scott, director of the African American Studies Program, said. “But to the person on the receiving end, it might not be.”
Scott facilitated the discussion by asking the participants how they felt affected by race at SLU. More specifically, she asked how students felt affected by it in interpersonal relationships.
Many students and staff present agreed that, while they felt interracial interaction in college was an important part of education, there were few opportunities in day-to-day life to have them. Some proposed integrating diversity discussion into classes, such as University 101 courses, so that students would have the experience from the beginning.
The discussion then turned to a conversation about how race worked in campus decisions, such as admissions and employment.
Kenneth Fleischmann, director of Human Resources, said that, since the Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship was broadened from a race-based scholarship to a diversity scholarship in 2003, the University has been working hard to ensure that racial minorities are represented on campus. But there have been some difficulties due to what Fleischmann referred to as an ineffective administering of aid.
Scott asked those in attendance to voice their opinions and recommendations for further events and specific ways to address diversity on campus.
“Part of the dialogue on campus should continue to educate about white privilege, so that we may be able to have an open conversation about our real experiences,” Fleischmann said.
A few students wanted more discussion about what those with “white privilege” could do to alleviate diversity issues.
Outgoing Student Government Association President Michael Harriss voiced his opinion about the apparent segregation in the Cross Cultural Center.
“Are we separating people with the intent of creating diversity? The Cross Cultural Center doesn’t have a lot of white students,” Harriss said. “Maybe it’s because of the presence of all the multicultural organizations there, but are we building a home for diversity or are we still keeping groups separate unintentionally?”
This comment sparked more discussion about how the discomfort many white students feel in the Cross Cultural Center is good, as it represents how racial minorities feel everywhere else on campus.
“There are students of color who go into all these other places, who feel the same unease you feel walking into the Cross Cultural Center,” Dean of Students Scott Smith said.
Several representatives from the Cross Cultural Center present said they would love to see more white students in the Center, as it would certainly help to facilitate more interaction with minorities that the University seems to be lacking.
The forum ended with an agreement among everyone that the discussions about race and diversity couldn’t end here.
“The best universities understand that these conversations are ongoing,” Smith said.
Overall, those in attendance felt that the discussion was a success.
“It went well for the turnout,” sophomore Mike Sumpter said. “The biggest challenge is that we all want to be here. We need to apply it to the entire University now”
