In the confines of the walls of the African American Cultural Center, a diverse group of students met Monday night and sat in a circle facing each other and faced diversity issues that inhibit the University from reaching new heights.
“We are on the cusp of reaching new heights on campus,” said Issac Netters, coordinator of the AACC. “We need to know where people stand on these issues. We need to see where we are and see who is committed to make a difference.”
A quiet and timid crowd was encouraged by Jennifer Grace, president of the Black Student Union and moderator for the event, to speak up so the University will hear their opinions. After a few minutes of coaxing, the group began to speak against racism, and a spirited crowd began to unfold the core issues of diversity at LSU.
“We need to step out of our comfort zones,” said Brandon Smith, Student Senate speaker. “We need to make a deliberate effort to change. There is too much unchannelled anger.”
The question of separate centers for each group on campus was posed as to whether it is a contradiction to unity. Tammy Sam, a psychology senior, said that each center acts as a middle man for those cultures to the general community.
Smith said that diversity and unity is not limited to student life but must start in the administration and Academic Affairs to take effect.
“We are constantly fixing this problem of unity with a new week or a new organization, but that is not where all of the problems lie,” Smith said.
As the students continued to discuss and debate whether they felt LSU is a welcoming community, minority recruitment students concluded that change has to occur in the individual and in minority communities before it can be campus wide.
“The change has to come from within,” said Lynette White, a psychology senior. “We [African Americans] have hardened hearts because of the struggles we have been through and we are angry people because of it. If it is not within me to be unified then I will not be.”
Black students who transferred from other universities said some of their friends consider them “sell outs” and will not talk to them because they believe they have gone to the “white” university.
“From the beginning we have been separated in the South,” said Staruos Pierce, a philosophy senior. “It is time to stop talking and close the fist and start fighting.”
But for some students they see hope in LSU’s future and in this generation of students.
“You see it in Tiger Stadium,” said Gabriel Wilson, an electrical and computer engineering sophomore. “Everyone there is cheering for the same team. We are all fighting for the same cause and in academics we are all here for an education. We must learn from one another and knock down the barriers.”