About 70 Ohio University students met in Nelson Commons yesterday evening to address diversity concerns on campus, including ways to bring international and domestic students together.
The American Marketing Association hosted the Unmasking Athens event as a way for students to talk about diversity. The Athens Community Relations Commission held a similar event last month, but only a few students attended, said John Schmieding, director of the commission.
“We wanted to bring the same kind of discussion (as the one at the commission’s event) to campus,” said Brian Bridges, OU’s vice provost for Diversity, Access and Equity. Bridges worked with the commission on both events.
Attendants were encouraged to speak in small groups about diversity discrimination they have experienced on campus. Many students agreed that most of the discrimination is against Asian international students.
“Sometimes people say stuff about the Asian students,” said OU sophomore Dave Bogdas.
Danielle Ayres, a senior marketing major, said she has witnessed prejudice against Asian students, but thinks most of it stems from misunderstanding.
“People forget that this is the first time (international students) have been in a different country. How would (domestic students) feel if they were booted to China?” she added.
Others agreed that discrimination comes from negative attitudes.
“As human beings, we tend to distance ourselves from those we don’t understand, but if we could have a change in attitude…we can learn that we are more similar than dissimilar,” said Beatrice Selotlegeng, an academic advisor for the College of Business.
Students also spoke about ways to bring international students and domestic students together.
“It’s an awkward challenge to engage with a group of international students, but more should try,” said junior Christopher Wagner.
Schmieding ended the event by thanking everyone who participated and encouraging the practice of ideas shared at the event.
“We can make a difference if we take the time to reach out to someone who is different than us and start to break down some (diversity) barriers,” Schmieding said.
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