Week Dedicated to Student Solidarity
Board magnifies anonymous student prejudices on campus
Summer MezaTHE SANTA CLARAJanuary 29, 2014
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he popular app Yik Yak gives you the ability to anonymously share opinions without ever revealing your identity.
Some thoughts from the Santa Clara area include, “I don’t understand why the black community has been unable to improve their lot in society in comparison to other minority communities,” and “In honor of MLK tonight, I will be getting blacked out.” One group of Broncos is bringing these attitudes and prejudices to light.
The Multicultural Center is currently hosting its quarterly MCC Week, a series of events that promote involvement and encourage critical thinking about diversity and culture on campus.
The goal of the week’s events is to continue working toward creating an inclusive community. The MCC also gets the opportunity to reach out to the student body and show what it is about.
“It’s a chance for the multicultural clubs to shine,” said senior Max Nguyen, director of the Multicultural Center. “(They) advocate for themselves as a club and use the programming to bring various issues to light.”
The programming includes Monday and Tuesday’s tabling event,“Overheard at SCU,” which displayed and commented on racial prejudices posted on Yik Yak. Students also gathered to discuss current music and the racial politics in popular culture surrounding artists like Iggy Azalea and Azealia Banks.
“I wanted to take a look at the racial tension that is still prevelant in our society,” said sophomore Nick Shing, the organizer of “Iggy versus Azealia.”
The last few events of the week are a bit more involved, such as today’s “#ChangeMyView” discussion. Students can state an opinion, and then allow for a dialogue to begin, challenging other students to change that opinion and offer a fresh perspective for them to consider.
On Friday, Hartbeat, a popular YouTube vlogger, will come to talk about her experiences as a black, LGBTQ woman.
“It’s not often we get these artists to come by,” said Nguyen, expressing his hope for high attendance.
All of these programs would be useless without the unifying theme of celebrating differences and making a conscious effort toward bettering Santa Clara’s sense of community. This year, that theme is solidarity through the hashtag “#OurVoicesMatter.”
“This is a chance for all of us to stand in solidarity,” said Nguyen. “There (are) not many chances for us to all stand together on an issue. In this case, that issue is diversity.”
MCC Week also represents the kickoff for the remainder of the quarter’s events, as clubs move beyond weekly meetings and into plans to raise awareness on campus, celebrate their culture and connect with students of all ethnicities.
“We can use our voices in ways that are really empowering, or in ways that are really damaging,” said Nguyen. “It’s important that we use our voices for something that will improve issues.”
Contact Summer Meza at sameza@scu.edu or call (408) 554-4852.