by Alli Inglebright
The College of Journalism and Mass Communications Student Advisory Board hosted a diversity panel Wednesday, April 11. The panel included Charlie Foster, director of the Gaughan Multicultural Center and assistant vice chancellor for Student Affairs, Bryan Wang, assistant CoJMC professor, and Joe Starita, CoJMC professor.
The panel discussed issues related to diversifying work environments, pressures put on minorities in classrooms and ways University of Nebraska–Lincoln can continue to diversify campus.
Carissa Soukup, treasurer of SAB and senior journalism student, organized the panel.
“Organizing the panel was important to me because issues surrounding diversity on college campuses across the country are so prevalent right now,” Soukup said. “I wanted to be able to gives students a chance to learn more about diversity from some of our amazing faculty and staff members on campus.”
Panel members emphasized the notion that everyone should play a small role in creating an inclusive environment on campus. It can be as small as inviting someone of a different background to be part of your group. Those small acts of kindness are important, Foster said.
“If you don’t care what is going on with the person next to you we lose something as a community and as a country,” Foster said.
Starita encouraged students to use their time in college to gain some traction on issues and make changes. Get to know who your classmates are and where they came from, he said.
“Cultural ignorance breeds stereotypes,” Starita said. “Stereotypes breed fear and fear can breed hatred.”
During the discussion, Soukup realized she hasn’t been doing everything she can to create a diverse campus.
“The panelists emphasized that now is the time to be stepping out of our comfort zones and challenging ourselves to meet someone different than ourselves,” Soukup said. “I realized, as a senior, that I have not done enough to aid in creating a diverse campus. Making these realizations is important, but now it is time to do something about them, which looks different for everybody.”
Moving forward, Soukup plans to have more conversations with classmates from different backgrounds and share those experiences with other students. She will continue to have those conversations with her future coworkers.
“If I had to say the number one thing I took away from the panel, it is that the diversity conversation isn't a one-time thing,” Soukup said. “It is a continuing conversation that needs to be taking place and we are the ones who have to start it. If we don't, no one will.”
