Unconscious hostility – Multicultural Affairs plans to work closely with ASUI to address racism at UI

On the behalf of students of color, Black Student Union President Cynthia Ballesteros and student Chelsea Butler requested greater interaction between the Office of Multicultural Affairs and ASUI last week.

The two hope to address what they see as an environment unconsciously hostile toward students of color.

Butler, who revived UI”s Black Student Union, said she is not blaming ASUI for anything, but said she has noticed a disconnect between ASUI and students of color.

Butler said that disconnect has not been addressed and she and Ballesteros have decided to be the ones to start the conversation.

“We are asking each one of you to be our allies,” she said during an Oct. 28 ASUI Senate meeting.

Butler decided to address ASUI after a specific incident where she was reminded of the discrimination she said she experiences most often, what she calls “unintended micro-aggressions.”

Ballesteros said micro-aggressions can have a significant effect on students.

Ballesteros said she is frustrated with people writing off parts of her personality or feelings she expresses as consequences of her ethnicity. She said she has to change how she acts to be taken seriously.

“I carry this mental checklist with me about the way I look and the way I talk,” Ballesteros said.

She said the checklist is a combination of mental and physical preparations she has to make – something she said is an unacceptable consequence of the environment Butler described. She said it puts her in a constant state of stress.

When it comes to policy decision, Butler said she is not sure what concrete solutions need to be reached, but knew it was best to come to ASUI when they did.

“What we want from ASUI is for them to start a conversation within their group,” Butler said. “We want to help our leaders help us.”

ASUI President Max Cowan said he was glad the students immediately came to ASUI.

“We don”t expect them to have the plan. That”s our job,” Cowan said. “This is the beginning of our conversation.”

But Ballesteros said there are things students of color do need, such as a bigger diversity center.

“It”s used as a study area, for meetings, events, all kinds of things,” she said.

She said they hope ASUI will include diversity groups” needs in planning the space in the Idaho Commons that will be left behind by the College of Education.

“What we need is to make sure the university has something to offer students of color who feel they need support,” Butler said.

Butler said she would like UI”s different diversity groups to be part of ASUI pre-session meetings. Cowan said he is ready to work with them and their presence is welcome.

Cowan said he hopes to grow ASUI”s efforts through the Office of Multicultural Affairs to better serve students of color more effectively. He said he has had conversations with other student groups that serve minorities and with staff about potential projects.

“We can use ASUI”s power on campus to affect change in university policy coupled with the strength of their voices to share their lived experience,” Cowan said.

Nishant Mohan  can be reached at  [email protected]  or on Twitter  @NishantRMohan

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