A panel of five discussed the past, present and future of African-American students at Ohio University as part of the symposium celebrating the university’s 50th Black Alumni Reunion.
The event took place on the fourth floor of Alden Library on Saturday morning. Each panelist had their own stories to tell, with some discusing their experiences as an African-American student at OU while others discussed how the university is pushing to increase diversity.
The panel’s members were Roderick McDavis, OU’s president, Dr. Jason Carthen, president and CEO of Redeemed Management and Consulting LLC, Candace Boeninger, assistant vice provost and director of admissions of OU, Ryan Lombardi, vice president of Student Affairs, and Seaira Christian-Daniels, a senior studying journalism in the Honors Tutorial College.
Four OU students spoke about their current experiences in a recorded video at the start of the forum. Each one focused on a different topic.
Christian-Daniels, a black student, spoke further about her initial reluctance to attend OU but how after visiting campus, she fell in love.
She said she studied in Santiago, Chile, presented research with a professor in Las Vegas, and interned in Washington D.C., all because of support from OU.
Carthen, an OU alum, said he started a scholarship to give students the opportunity to find their destiny at OU.
“There were some challenges, but nothing that would overtake the joy of being here,” he said.
Boeninger presented statistical evidence for the rise in under-represented students at OU. There are roughly 560 students from minority groups at OU this year, she said, adding that African-American interest in the university also increased 30 percent this year.
“We are on an upward swing and momentum is strong,” Boeninger said.
Lombardi explained the university’s plans to provide students of diversity with a more comfortable transition into college life and how they will be encouraged to become more involved outside of the classroom.
McDavis spoke last, describing his time as a student at OU. He graduated in 1970.
McDavis said he was a student when OU was emphasizing diversity on campus for the first time, adding that he hopes to make OU even more diverse going forward.
“We are excited for where we are today, but also excited for where we (will be) tomorrow,” McDavis said.
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