Student's Racial Accusations Spark Debate

Editor-in-Chief

   In a Student Government Association meeting, Thursday, Oct. 23, students debated about a student’s remarks on the campus being “racist.”

   Cheryl Conley, a first-year student, stated, “there is racism on this campus.” According to Conley, two of the racist areas of the campus include jobs and the dorms.  She pointed out no black students work in the bookstore.

   Megan Prescott, a senior history major and student worker in the bookstore, said, “The bookstore is always accepting applications. We (the bookstore) aren’t racist; new workers are not hired until people quit or graduate.”

   Bookstore Manager Billy Hogue said the bookstore is not racist and hires all ethnicities.

   Conley said residence life racially discriminated against her because it put people in front of her on a waiting list since she is black. According to Conley, she was third on a dorm waiting list. She said she checked back in a month, and she moved to seventh.

   Alisa Haynes, resident director of Royer Hall, said this could not be a racial issue.

   “Nothing on the (residence life) application asks for your race,” Haynes said. “Residence Life would have to call admissions to get someone’s race, which we’re not supposed to do.”

   Conley said she did not believe Haynes because residence life did discriminate against her because of her race.  

   “This is still a racist problem,” Conley said. “Her (the residence life worker) friend or somebody white was put before me. This is my opinion.”

   Michael Reynolds II, SGA vice president and resident director of Bankston Hall, said the mistake in residence life could have been a clerical error. He said when residence life looks at the applications it cannot know who the students are.

   Mitch Meredith, director of Residence Life, could not be reached for a comment by press time.

   Conley also stated the campus does not treat “black” and “white” fraternities the same. Conley said she went to an activity for a “black” fraternity where a campus police officer told the party it had to move due to loud music.

   According to Conley, “white” fraternities have loud music at parties, but have not been asked to move. She said this is unfair to the black students.

   Billy Huggins, president of Phi Beta Sigma fraternity, said one of its parties had to move, even after the Student Programs and Activities office approved it. He said he did not know if racism played a part in campus police moving the party, but it “was not right.”

   Reynolds pointed out the campus police do their job by investigating noise disturbance calls.

   Brittany Pickett, SGA member, said Greeks should look for a spot to have parties away from the dorms so it would not disturb residents.

   Huggins said when the group schedules an event from 7 – 10 p.m. it should not disturb residents. He also pointed out quiet hours on campus do not start until 10 p.m.

   “Greek life already sucks on this campus, and it’s going to get worse,” Huggins said. “People should get out, have fun and be involved in campus life. Don’t take our stuff away.”

   Sandy Herring, vice president of Alpha Sigma Tau sorority, and Phi Lambda Chi Fraternity member Jonathan Greenlee both said their Greek organizations have a difficult time hosting a party on campus due to the limited places to hold the party.

   Conley said the campus is supposed to be an equal-opportunity college, but people continue to judge others based on the color of their skin.

   Reynolds pointed out how many positions black students on campus hold.  He noted all of the SGA officers are black. He also said the resident directors in the dorms are black.  Black students work in the Fred J. Taylor Library and Technology Center, Harris Hall and serve as Ambassadors, according to Reynolds.

   Thomas said he would look into the problems.

   Other topics discussed at the meeting include:

• Thomas said the Chancellor announced in the Assembly meeting Wednesday, Oct. 22 a virus caused the Internet problems, not the move from Sorrells Hall to Wells Hall. 

• SGA last updated the constitution in the fall of 2002. During Student Senate meetings, the constitution will be broken down by section and revised. The Senate will bring the revisions to SGA meetings for a vote.

   The next senate meeting will take place Nov. 5 at 12:30. For more information on SGA, Student Senate and Student Activities Board, contact Mindy Holcomb at Holcomb@uamont.edu or 460-1396.

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