For Shannon Mayer and James Hopson, dating has created a few obstacles other couples may not have had to deal with - they are an interracial couple.
Mayer, a parks and recreation senior who is Native American and white, and Hopson, who graduated from MSU last year and is Filipino and black, have been together for two years. They met while Mayer was a minority aide and Hopson was a resident assistant.
Despite the fact that Mayer has had other interracial relationships, she said her family still had doubts.
“My dad was concerned with the persecution of society on interracial relationships,” she said. “It was really rough for the first few months we were together. But now, our family is really accepting. All of my friends are completely accepting of it.”
But society isn’t always welcoming to the couple.
Mayer recalled an incident in Grand Rapids a few weeks ago.
“We were heading back from a club, and these guys yelled out their windows things like ‘jungle fever,’” she said. “Or walking through a mall, there are times when people give you dirty looks and talk amongst themselves and then focus on you.”
Because his parents also have an interracial relationship, Hopson said there wasn’t much objection from them when he began dating Mayer.
But he offered advice for people who disagree with his decision.
“They obviously haven’t taken the time to look at our relationship for what it is,” he said. “What does it matter to you if it doesn’t matter to us?”
Soniya Vaidya, multicultural affairs director at Pennsylvania State University, coordinated the university’s first open forum to educate students about interracial dating on campus last month. The event was held during Unity Week, an event that encouraged diversity.
Vaidya said about 65 students attended the forum.
“They were talking about how it was difficult to tell their families the person they were dating was of a different race,” she said. “As soon as they started dating interracially, they had to keep it from their parents. It was a big wake-up call for so many students who were there.”
At MSU, various student organizations and residence hall groups often hold forums throughout the year on interracial dating.
Michael Ganheart, a Brody Complex minority aide, said he has attended such programs and thinks they are a good idea.
“I think it’s important for us to get an idea of what other races think about relationships,” the computer engineering junior said. “Different races have different ideas about what a relationship should be, and it would help to get rid of any negative stereotypes that might be prevalent on campus.”
Chris Harris, an advertising sophomore, said he agrees with a person’s decision to date someone of a different race. And he thinks people who do not agree with such a decision are not educated about the issue.
“I would tell them to think a little harder and open their eyes,” he said. “Give people a chance.”
