In light of the Northwestern’s recent blackface incident, students from across the University discussed short-term and long-term goals for addressing diversity at NU.
“Right now we’re just a bunch of cool people who come together on Thursday nights to talk,” said Tommy Smithburg, Associated Student Government executive vice president and Weinberg senior.
ASG president Mike McGee, a Communication senior, was also in attendance.
Sharanya Jaidev, co-chair of Northwestern Community Development Corps, organized the gathering, which was held at the Center for Civic Engagement, 1813 Hinman Ave. It followed a similar meeting that was held a week ago to address concerns raised at last Thursday’s town hall forum on race and blackface.
“I do represent NCDC in some aspect, because we believe in community development,” the Weinberg senior said. “A bunch of us came together individually and took a stand.”
Attendees at the meeting said they do not intend to become a distinct student organization.”To group ourselves I don’t think is a good idea,” said Alex Sims, a SESP senior.
The students broke down their goals and assigned them to both individual students and organizations that already exist.
“Everyone has their talent and everyone brings something to the table,” Jaidev said.
Some of the goals the group discussed are plans that have already been set into motion. InclusiveNU will be making a video about diversity at NU and will also be staging a demonstration shortly before Thanksgiving.
One of the long-term goals includes diversifying university residences, possibly making each residence hall a general residential college. This may include creating a housing system that ensures diversity in each residence.
Weinberg senior Priyanka Rupani said instilling diversity within living environments would increase students’ sensitivity.
“People have to tap into their own experiences, so we have to give them a venue to experience things by reaching every Northwestern student and allowing them to experience something actively,” Rupani said.
Students said diversifying the University’s CA staff would also be an improvement. SESP freshman Zoe Goodman said this method would be more effective than others, such as programs that would require online training over the summer.
“I feel the best way to get to freshmen is through living situations, through CAs,” Goodman said.
Other long-term goals include creating a more diverse faculty and integrating a cultural studies requirement into each school’s curricula. The group also discussed religious diversity on campus – some individuals said they hoped to initiate more contact between religious groups on campus.
In addition to taking action at NU, Smithburg said ASG is also working closely with the student government at Washington University in St. Louis in response to an incident when six black Wash U seniors were barred from a Chicago nightclub in early October.
“We are talking about holding some sort of event here at Northwestern,” Smithburg said. “It will be discussion–based. It’s still definitely in the works for Winter Quarter.”
Fernando Cutz, senior class president at Wash U, said his class has reached an agreement with Mother’s Nightclub Original, 26 W. Division St., which denied entrance to the six black male students on the trip, citing its “baggy pants” policy.
Cutz said one of the stipulations of the agreement was that the club host four fundraisers – three in Chicago, one in St. Louis – with proceeds benefitting the social justice or diversity organization of the students’ choice. Cutz said at least one fundraiser will likely be exclusively for NU students.
“Our goal was to turn a negative into a positive,” Cutz said. Both Smithburg and Cutz said this was the first time they had worked very closely with the student government of another university.
“We have to recognize other communities are having the same issues,” Smithburg said. “We can learn from each other. We need to reach out.”[email protected]
