More than 25,000 undergraduate students call the University home, and each student carries his or her own unique background and story. Putting all these students on one campus allows for the opportunity to learn about nearly any race, ethnicity, religion or background possible.
“Campus Conversations: A Dialogue on Race” is a joint initiative between the Honors College and the Office of Multicultural Affairs that aims to bring together students of all backgrounds and give them a way to share what makes them different.
Sunday afternoon, students of a variety of races and ethnicities gathered in the grand salon of the French House for an educational discussion of their respective races and cultures.
Granger Babcock, associate dean of the Honors College, said when a large group of students of varying backgrounds get together, a great deal can be learned.
“I think that people who know others from different races, social classes and religious beliefs have a tendency to empathize with them better,” Babcock said.
Chemical engineering junior Yuki Sui attended the event and said he believes conversations like this have a real impact on the attitudes of students.
“I don’t think there is much direct racism on campus, but sometimes in the background there are some unseen things that cause concern,” Sui said. “If students come here and want to listen, they will certainly learn something.”
Gathering once a semester for a meal and conversation is only part of a grander plan the OMA has for race relations. Krystie Nguyen, coordinator of cross-cultural affairs in the OMA, said events like this are crucial to a university setting.
“We want to get students who don’t usually interact with each other to engage in conversation,” Nguyen said. “These are topics that probably are not so openly discussed in a classroom or anywhere else.”
Nguyen and the students in attendance have high hopes for where a program like this can lead to. The students were divided into groups and will be encouraged to stay in contact and meet on a monthly basis to continue the dialogue.
“We want to create empathy between diversity,” Nguyen said. “Talking about race and having people come together creates empathy and helps to not put people into stereotypes.”