Tonight Graduate Student Senate will be presented with a report about the upcoming panel discussion sponsored by African American Affairs.
James Archibald, the commissioner for African American Affairs, will present the senate with information about the upcoming panel discussion, Addressing the Concerns of the Underrepresented Student.
We will be focusing on the trials and tribulations (underrepresented) students face in higher education
Archibald said.
One example was that minority students on their way to the bars during the weekends sometimes have racial slurs thrown at them by drunken Caucasian students, Archibald said.
The panel discussion will concentrate on domestic minority students including African American, Latino and biracial students, but is open to all students, faculty, staff and administrators.
There will be opportunities for people to ask questions ... in regards to the experiences of underrepresented students said Tracy Kelly, president of Graduate Student Senate.
Panel members include: Brian Bridges, vice provost for Diversity, Access and Equity; Melanie Hayden, interim director for undergraduate admissions; Jesse Raney, director for disability services; and Jennifer Chung, a visiting professor in educational studies.
This is an opportunity to learn from the minority faculty and staff through their trials and tribulations
and receive feedback
Archibald said.
Stephanie Sanders, a commission member for African American Affairs, will moderate.
Kelly said although the African American commission is sponsoring the panel, Graduate Student Senate supports it fully.
The commission entertained several options, including bringing in a speaker, having an open discussion or simply giving a presentation before settling on a panel discussion.
We did several think tanks with OU
Archibald said. We met with some members of the Urban Scholars
some of the Greek leaders and some students from the colleges.
Archibald says he hopes the panel will raise awareness on the issues of underrepresented students.
I think that the administrators do not know that there are problems of the racial issues (on campus)
Archibald said. Or they do not know the extent of them. ... I was not even aware of the things that occur on campus on the weekends.
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