By CHLOE GRUSING
Editorial Editor
Today is February first, the beginning of Black History Month. This month is used to bring attention to success, achievements and inequalities that have impacted the black community.
Around the university there will be many events and clubs for students to celebrate the month. I encourage poeple on campus to become involved.
Students of Northwestern should take time during the month to be aware of what their peers have experienced throughout their life.
A student has the responsibility to reflect and celebrate the successes and trials that have occurred throughout campus.
Though Alva is a wonderful town, there is always good with the bad.
Northwestern Oklahoma State University has given many great experiences to students, but sometimes there are negative interactions that occur.
The university has been open for more than one hundred years and in that time America has changed greatly, with huge political leaps forward.
The definition of discrimination, as described by Merriam-Webster, ”prejudiced or prejudicial outlook, action, or treatment.”
This means that a person experiences different treatment due to a judgment someone has against them. Though this may not be something comfortable to talk about, it must be discussed.
Every student at Northwestern deserves to have a fair and enjoyable experience. The mistreatment of others for something they cannot control is abhorrent and must be stopped.
The campus strives to treat every student equally, but sometimes there are pitfalls within the system.
There have been students attending NWOSU that have experienced discrimination and judgment simply based on skin tone.
It is important for the everyday student at Northwestern to treat everyone with respect and dignity.
The responsibility of treating others fairly depends upon the willingness of peers to accept their classmates as they are.
Practicing kindness and standing up for peers is key to helping our campus become more welcoming to all.
As a student at Northwestern, I believe reporting acts of discrimination when witnessed will help improve the overall student body.
This may be hard because sometimes people do not want to overstep a boundary, but asking questions and getting more information about what happened can help make the report more accurate.
The Northwestern Oklahoma State University handbook states,
“Professionalism dictates that there should be no discrimination or harassment based on race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability or sexual preference.”
This policy ensures that no student will be discriminated against, and if it does happen then there are grounds to report the incident.
Ensuring the safety of all students is key to creating a positive college experience for all attendees. To report an incident of discrimination there are resources available to you.
The student handbook states to contact the Dean of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management, which can be reached at (580) 327-8415.
The next contact in line would be the Office of Civil Rights which can be reached at (816) 268-0550.
Another way to report an incident is to talk to a trusted staff member, tell them what happened and they can help get the proper help.
Helping to end discrimination is as simple as becoming educated on classmate’s backgrounds.
Supporting people who may not share the same culture as you is a great way to introduce new ideas to others.
Ensuring the safety and happiness of each student is important, so do not be afraid to speak up when something unfair occurs.
The campus should be a safe place for each student to learn and by holding perpetrators of prejudice accountable, proper steps can be taken to reprimand.
Every student deserves a safe place to learn, and each one of us can make that happen by supporting and listening to peers that have experienced different treatment.
Don’t be afraid to stand up for what is right. Let’s work to make NWOSU a great experience for everyone.
