Second Unite USC Forum Discusses Diversity Awareness

Students invested In Change held their second annual open forum, Unite USC, which was created last year after the rise of racial tension among students on campus. Students Invested in Change (SIC) is a student group dedicated to provoking progressive change in policy and community outlook. The topics discussed at the forum were on the basis of racism, classism, sexism and homophobia. Broken into sections, students and faculty participated in the dialogue by volunteering their thoughts one at a time in ways that moved the conversation along, showing respect for other people's opinions. One concern for students in particular was about the level of education the university provides for such strong topics that could potentially help foster more of a diversity awareness on campus. Student Government's newest initiative, mandatory Safe Zone Ally training, was suggested as one way that the conversations on campus about diversity could change. It was also suggested that the university may need more initiatives, specifically during the Orientation process in which students are taught how to adjust and prepare for the college lifestyle. "We can educate people as much as we want, but as far as changing the individual, that will be our hardest challenge," one student said in response to LGBTQ and transgender awareness on campus. Students also suggested that having changes such as more gender neutral bathrooms and having specific training on the issue of transgender awareness could be more helpful. The idea of also serving as a watchdog for victims of sexual assault was one that students and faculty also agreed on and felt should be addressed more openly on campus. A representative of the Equal Opportunity Office on campus suggested that the university change its target audience. "What would happen if we reached out to the athletic department and educated the football players? The Greek Department? Change is a process, it's not a person." Students were also concerned with the amount of participation campus leaders have on these issues. "We need to make sure more of our voices are heard. This is something that needs to change," a student said. Increasing dialogues with leaders on campus as well as getting involved in community voting and public policy were suggestions of how that issue could change. When discussing race, African American students in particular felt that it would be beneficial to find more ways to educate those outside of their race about what hurts them and why. "We need to raise more awareness about how bad racial slurs hurt," one student said. "How would you feel if we were to call you outside of your name?" Students also felt that more initiatives should be taken on both accounts for educating and teaching each other about race and racial inequality. More of an awareness on topics of racism as well as the lack of integrated events held by minority and non-minority students were universal topics of conflict. "Tell me how can I best serve you?" Johnathan Kaufman, student body president said. "Tell your friends to come out to the events and be with us as a community." Ending thoughts of the night were those that reflected on actions students could initiate well after the event. More specifically, the idea of the comfortable finally getting uncomfortable for the purpose of change within the Gamecock community.