By Jackie Roberts
Staff Writer
We, as college students, belong to a generation more integrated than ever before, according to civilrights.org. Our generation celebrates diversity more than any before us. With each step towards an unsegregated world, we must take time to reflect on the progression we have made. We also need to reflect on what we have left to accomplish. The Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts hosted an event called “Ever Wonder Why?” on Monday.
Members of the Black Student Union (BSU), the Latino American Student Organization (LASO) and the Muslim Student Association (MSA) planned the event. The idea behind it was to create a casual, open-forum where students of all races, religions and sexes were encouraged to speak freely regarding the issues of diversity on and off campus.
To start the event, members of BSU, LASO and MSA passed out sheets of paper and asked students in attendance to write a question related to diversity and place their question in a wooden box. After everyone turned in their questions, the box was passed around again for each student to find a different question. These questions served as starting points for discussion.
The first question read, “Why can’t we get along?” Though starting simple, students all around the room contributed to the conversation.
Alex Henry, a senior gerontology major, hesitantly raised her hand to contribute her input.
“We were made to get along,” Henry said. “Once we see someone as different from us, we already implement a judgment. We are made to create a connection with people.”
When speaking of diversity, it is important to remember race is not the only issue worth addressing. “Ever Wonder Why?” also paid attention to concerns with gender stereotypes. For instance, one question read “Why don’t girls like sensitive guys?” This question avalanched into a cycle of ideas related to gender stereotypes, including our perceptions of the gay and lesbian communities.
A week prior to “Ever Wonder Why?” a tragedy took place at the Boston Marathon. Students attending “Ever Wonder Why?” brought up the Boston Marathon bombing when speaking of why we should accept one another. Shivam Dua, a freshman biology major, brought a new point to the discussion.
“I heard that suspected Boston bombers committed this attack because they felt rejected by society,” Dua said. “Maybe that one extra ‘Hey, how are you?’ could have made a difference.”
Dua’s comment encouraged another student to share his insight. Sulaiman Muflahi, an MSA officer, said “You can’t put a color on a religion, and you can’t put a color on a terrorist.”
After the event, students signed a sheet to explain what they gained from the discussion.
“I loved how everyone gave their opinions and weren’t scared to speak up,” said freshman biology major Gretchen Hook.
Crystaliz Sanchez, a freshman accounting major, said she benefited from attending the program.
“It made me realize I should watch what I say and be careful of what words might offend people,” Sanchez said. “It also made me realize how important it is to inform people about your culture and try to be informed about other peoples’ cultures.”
Yvonne Makl, Damietta Center coordinator and director of all seven diversity clubs at Bona’s, helped plan the event. At the conclusion of “Ever Wonder Why?” Makl said she felt confident about how the night had gone.
“I feel really good about what just happened tonight,” Makl said. “I saw honesty from within the students. I liked when they started a statement by saying ‘this is personal.’ There is so much wisdom and the students drive it.”
Events like “Ever Wonder Why?” help us to understand other cultures and put an end to hate, according to Makl.
“The goal of having events like this is so someday we don’t have to,” Makl said.
Someday, if groups like BSU, LASO and MSA keep striving for acceptance with events like “Ever Wonder Why?” our campus, and our worlds, will face diversity with a new, more open perspective.
