Skip to Content, Navigation, or Footer.
The Post - Athens, OH
The independent newspaper covering campus and community since 1911.
The Post
Attendees at the Campus Convo on Tuesday listen to panelists voice their opinions.

Second Campus Conversation focuses on how to eliminate racism at Ohio University

The second Ohio University Campus Conversation took place Wednesday and focused on the question “What’s My Role in Creating a Campus and Community Free of Racism?”

This conversation was similar to the first conversation of the academic year, but it focused more on table conversations of various topics, ranging from community action steps to wondering how people embody multiple identities.

Assistant Dean of Students Jamie Patton started the event by emphasizing the importance of these conversations.

“These discussions are important to our community because we can shape our thoughts and feelings,” Patton said.

He continued to make sure people were comfortable being open about their thoughts on the discussion they were part of.

“(This is) a space where we want to maintain confidentiality,” Patton said.

About 40 people were in attendance, and they broke off into small table discussions. These conversations lasted an hour and fifteen minutes and provided a chance for people of different backgrounds to talk about topics they had chosen by sitting at certain tables.

Patton closed with what he called a “rich discussion” by introducing the crowd to organizations that work closely with promoting diversity and inclusion in Athens and at OU. Some of the organizations that came to speak were Appalachian Peace & Justice Network, United Campus Ministry and the Office of Diversity and Inclusion. Each of these organizations laid out their missions to provide a chance for people to get involved through both hands-on efforts and discussion-based groups.

Afterward, participants in the Campus Conversation reflected on how they appreciated the opportunity to talk about hot-button topics such as race with people of different backgrounds.

“This is the first campus conversation I have attended,” Emily Wilson, a senior studying middle childhood education, said. “I think what is so important about (campus conversations) is to engage with other people and learn from them. I think learning is just the most important things that come out of them.”

Tamekia Scott, assistant dean of academic achievement and executive director of the Academic Advancement Center, said she enjoyed how people in the community were able to be part of an open dialogue.

“I think it is important, if nothing else, to provide a safe environment for people to come in and have some dialogue and dialogue about the issues that are commonly not talked about,” Scott said. “Just allowing an aura to exist while we are having those conversations regardless of the tough conversations or the easy conversations, just having an open environment that is based for people to come in and feel like they are comfortable in sharing their experience.”

@maggiesbyline

mc987015@ohio.edu

Powered by SNworks Solutions by The State News
All Content © 2016-2024 The Post, Athens OH