Students discuss societal problems

The discussion involved topics of sexism, racism and heterosexism.

By Jess Camp

Published Feb. 23, 2007

Students Advocating the Multicultural Experience played host to a discussion about stereotypes in society Thursday night in Memorial Union.

SAME is an organization whose purpose is to talk about problems that concern minority students.

It also tries to spark interest throughout the community, SAME President Ashema Powell said.

Powell said Thursday's discussion was about stereotypes, specifically sexism, racism and heterosexism.

She said no one knows whether stereotypes are based on fact or if they're contrived, and that SAME wants to help sort that out.

"We've created an 'ask and I shall tell' environment for people to feel comfortable to ask their questions and to not be ostracized," Powell said.

Freshman Gina Kelly said she was excited about this meeting.

"I came because it's awesome," Kelly said. "Any time you learn a new fact it breaks down stereotypes."

Powell opened up the discussion by asking if it was the oppressor's job to stop racism or if it was the job of the oppressed.

Powell said she thought it was the job of the people who were oppressed to start the fight, but it was the oppressor's job to change the racist attitudes they have.

Kelly had a different opinion on the topic.

"It's both people's responsibility," Kelly said. "A lot of people don't realize their natural prejudice. If no one points it out, you won't know that you're doing anything wrong."

She said that she experiences racism because her dad is black and her mom is white.

"If I don't try to change the stereotype, then it's my fault too," she said.

Later, the meeting moved on to who racism affects. The majority of the people in the room agreed that racism is a matter of proximity.

"I went to a school where Caucasians were the minority," freshman Brad Garney said. "It's not all black, all white."

Those at the meeting also addressed whether American society has achieved equality.

"I wish there was equality," sophomore Ben Hinkebein said. "It'd be beautiful if people could put down their differences."

Kelly said she believes in diversity.

"I'm a minority," Kelly said. "I'm half white and half black. I think it adds an interesting splash to life when things are different."

Sophomore Chantee Smith also said that diversity is positive for everyone.

"People should be celebrated that they're different and acknowledged for it," she said.

Garney said diversity is important in the workplace and racism plays no part in employee selection.

"Some people say that they didn't get hired because of their race," she said. "But they didn't know who their competition was. People shouldn't make excuses, they should just work harder to get what they want."

Kelly said she had seen studies that stated people think fat people are sloppy and thin people are neat.

She said that businesses should use prejudices to their advantage.

If the public wants to see a worker who is put together and attractive, rather than someone who is disheveled and poorly dressed, then it makes sense for a business to follow the stereotypes, Kelly said.

"Everybody's prejudiced, that's just how it is," Garney said. "Stores should use it to their advantage."