A town hall meeting organized by black student leaders to discuss issues affecting their community will be held Monday.
There will be a panel discussion with an open mic that includes students, faculty and staff from National Panhellenic Council, Black Student Alliance, residence hall black caucuses, the MSU police, the Office of the Provost and the Office of Racial Ethnic Student Affairs.
The purpose of the town hall meeting is for minorities to discuss issues such as minority retention, student and police relations, racism, unity, a free-standing Multicultural Center on campus and Black Celebratory, a graduation ceremony to celebrate minority students.
Osie Gaines, a human biology senior and one of the event’s coordinators, said he hopes the town hall meeting educates students and allows them to express their opinions.
“The purpose is for students who may not know the parameter of campus politics to become better informed,” he said. “It’s a chance for other students to voice concerns to student leaders and administration. It’s one of the few chances students have to communicate with this many departments at one time.”
Nikki O’Brien, coordinator for African American student affairs in the Office of Racial Ethnic Student Affairs, said the meeting wasn’t spurred by a specific event - there always is a time to discuss minority issues, she said.
“The timing is not really a significant issue,” she said. “I think there are always some strategic issues that need to be addressed by students because they experience them so much. It’s a great opportunity for students to come together to bridge with faculty and staff about issues affecting the black community.”
O’Brien said although the event might not have enough time to tackle everything, it will encourage togetherness.
“I’m not sure you can expect too much to be resolved in a two-hour time frame, but what can be accomplished is a sense of unity about shared issues black students face,” she said.
Darren Lamb, programming director for Black Student Alliance and panel member, said the meeting should address minority issues on campus.
“There were slurs written on students doors, and we don’t feel like this is indicative of a university that is supposed to be all about diversity and multiculturalism,” the journalism senior said. “Obviously, there is an element of racism that hasn’t been addressed.”
Lamb said the event will promote change more than previous town hall meetings.
“We want to come to a consensus and a resolution about initiatives so we can plan to end some of these problems that have been happening,” he said. “There are still fights occurring at social events, and they are still an issue for the black community. As black student leaders, we feel it’s imperative that we address this issue intelligently and completely - more completely than last year.
“The problems are still going on, so obviously we missed something.”
