Missouri State University stakeholders came together Thursday to discuss how the school can move forward and actively represent the whole of its public affairs mission; including cultural competency. The meeting was spearheaded by Dr. Lori Patton Davis, a professor at Indiana University-Purdue and expert in creating campus diversity initiatives, who was enlisted to help the university plan their changes.
“I’m here today to talk to you and kind of get a sense from you about some of the issues that have occurred on campus, what your perspectives are with regards to multi-culturalism on campus, and what the efforts have been.”
Faculty and staff had many questions about the necessary steps regarding the structure of the MSU’s Multicultural Center. But the subject brought up again and again was lack of communication. Many attendees voiced their reluctance to talk about diversity issues; whether out of fear or uncomfortably with how to proceed.
“There’s a problem that we sometimes have; we are more afraid to say the wrong thing than nothing, and nothing is the worst thing to say,” explained one employee.
Other dialog focused on the need for formal training and how to spark change within the university, the need to be proactive instead of reactive, and the tinderbox that started serious discussions of race issues on campus; homecoming 2014.
Racial slurs at African American students conducting a silent protest made headlines and started the ‘tough talks’ meetings. More recently, a group of students has demanded changes to the school’s diversity initiatives, some of which university officials have acted upon. And this month, there were calls to remove MSU’s assistant vice president of Multicultural Services after allegations he had discriminated against students. The case was closed this week, after the student who complained about Juan Meraz decided not to seek a formal investigation.
Patton Davis made it clear that MSU has a long way to go in understanding its focus has to be more student centered and not concerned with personal fear. She added that is not the only school faced with such issues.
“Students have been called the N word, or insulted in class. Many experiences that students face here go on in California, our most diverse state. It may look different, but the impact on the student, I don’t think, is different.”
Patton Davis will take part in an open forum with students tonight at 6 pm in the Plaster Student Union Room 313. On Friday morning, she’s scheduled to give a presentation to the division of Student Affairs beginning at 10 in the PSU Ballroom West. Both meetings are open to the public. See Patton Davis’ full campus visit schedule here.
