By Kara Little, Forum Editor
Susquehanna, once again, continued to show its students of color a lack of attention, specifically during the months that are dedicated to celebrating them.
Last month, I addressed the issues of students of color in leadership positions on this campus, and how this college does not make way for students of color to be leaders, but rather the students of color that are leaders on this campus are natural-born leaders that determine their own paths regardless of their environment.
I, as a student of color and natural-born leader, knew that I was going to find my own way to shine on this campus, regardless. However, some students have a hard time pushing themselves out of the box and connecting and networking with their peers.
I decided that I wanted to change that narrative and asked some current students of color at Susquehanna about tips on how the Susquehanna community can cater to students of color more
than they say they already do.
Israel Collazo-Luciano is a sophomore Spanish and Sociology double major. He is a well known leader on campus involved in several different organizations here at Susquehanna.
In addition to completing his studies on campus, he is an Orientation Team leader, a student worker for the Center for Diversity and Inclusion and the Political Activist for Susquehanna’s Black Student Union.
One thing that the school needs to do is connect the students of color with faculty of color as soon as they arrive and not wait until Welcome Week when students are already overwhelmed with the idea of being on their own and, for some, so far from home.
Seminars that are hosted for students on how to enroll in leadership positions, students and faculty of color programs are a great start.
I spoke to Israel on his thought about how Susquehanna can change this dynamic.
He noted that “the same people are given the same opportunities” and that students of color can be connected with current student leaders of color in order to have those connections earlier in their college career.
This way, when current students leaders of color must step down and/ or are overwhelmed with their duties, these students will have great students that can lead in their place, while also representing minorities.
Overall, I know that Susquehanna can do better in every aspect. The same “diverse and inclusive” environment that the university claims to have is the same one drowning out those voices of the underrepresented.
The school needs to understand that they need to actually take action into creating an environment for all students of color to shine, rather than try “to speak it into existence.”
Making a “diverse and inclusive environment” is the “thoughts and prayers” of Susquehanna.
It is great to acknowledge that a diverse and inclusive environment needs to be made, but there are more steps that need to be taken in order to finally achieve that goal.
One of those steps is creating a space for all students of color, past, present, and future, and giving them opportunities just as great as their white counterparts.
The editorials of The Quill reflect the views of individuals members of the
editorial board. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the entire
university. The content of the Forum page is the responsibility of the
editor in chief and the Forum editor