Collegian

An argument over diversity broke out at the Student Senate Meeting March 7.

Jessica Villa, Melantria Jenkins, Ilays Aden, and Johnathon Woldaub, all students from Bellevue Community College in Seattle, visited LCCC and attended the student senate general meeting.

The students from BCC claimed that LCCC has "institutionalized racism and no diversity in clubs or leadership positions on campus."

Earlier in the week the BCC group attended an LCCC Arts and Humanities division meeting. The meetings were part of what has been promoted as a leadership tour of the area by BCC student leaders. The students also visited Oberlin College and participated in workshops with area high school students.

They were accompanied to the Student Senate meeting by Malcolm Cash an LCCC/BCC instructor.

LCCC students did not agree with the claims.

"We can't vote for people if they don't run!" said a representative from Creativity Club. "We cannot make people run for leadership positions, it's their own choice. Yes, we have an all white student senate, but that doesn't mean we aren't diverse."

Scott Norton, the vice president from Pride, said that being a gay man on campus shows diversity.

"Diversity is more than the color of your skin. Just having a gay club on campus shows that," he said.

During the meeting the group from Seattle discussed Lorain high school students and why they believe they are not being given opportunities, the economic background of the community, and why the LCCC faculty is not diverse.

Cash said that most students on campus aren't "culturally intellectual" enough to understand different races.
"When was the last time someone was required to read about African American heritage for graduation? Everyone has to read about white culture," he said.

In response to that, Student Senate  President Sarah Perrigan said that "being white doesn't mean we are the same. I'm Native American, but you wouldn't know that by looking at me. If he's saying we need to read about black heritage, then that means people need to read about every single one."

Jenkins stated that we are "one of the worst segregated places" she has seen.

Perrigan was outraged at how the meeting went.

"We were told this was going to be a presentation from another community college, about how we compare to them. Instead, they sat down and basically attacked us," she said.

"Everyone is allowed to contribute and join any club. We don't discriminate against anyone," said Perrigan.

"We just want to help people to get involved," said Villa. "We didn't come here to cause any trouble, or offend anyone."

There are rules on campus that state that discrimination is not allowed. LCCC's mission statement, which can be found on the college website, states that "Lorain County Community College...serves a culturally diverse community by promoting education, economic, cultural and community development."
It is also stated on the college website that they welcome "the unique talents and contributions of its diverse community."

Article Tools