Inclusive Campus Initiative Virtual Community Forum Student Challenges 2022-23
General Summary:
• Forum topic: student challenges for the 2022-23 school year
• Mental health and CAPS with Dr. Hingwe
Detailed Summary
• Introductory remarks and community guidelines from Meaghan Kozar and Rebekah Long
• Mental health and CAPS with Dr. Hingwe
o Overview of CAPS resources
o Navigating the end of the semester
Open discussion/concerns/questions:
• Remarks from Nadir Harmon, president of Muslim Student Association (MSA) regarding MSA events and sense of unity at MSU
• Concerns with safety surrounding Asian-American women (racial prejudice, harassment, desire for more consequences for those who commit sexual violence, intersectionality of race and gender)
• APASO demands from a town hall meeting not being met
• Repercussions for students and faculty/staff/admin who contribute to oppressive and unsafe behaviors on campus (defamation of rock, faculty having sexual harassment claims against them, hate crimes being downplayed as “pranks”)
• Desire for campus wide updates on repercussions received by those who are involved in unsafe/oppressive behaviors.
• Advocacy efforts to take place more so on administrative level rather than student level
• Student frustration with voicing concerns multiple times and no sufficient action being taken
• Barriers for student activism/advocacy/student government involvement on campus (lack of time to take part due to financial issues and students who need to work multiple jobs – no time for involvement) and desire for more funding
• Concern on forming a community – suggestion of faculty/student committee and how to spark change
• Students sharing multiple identities and trying to explore those identities, but feelings of being an “outsider” when attending groups related to their identities
• Building bridges and connections across all groups on campus
• Inclusion with RAs and intercultural aides (ICAs)/relationships with RAs and ICAs
• Transitions from online to in-person classes
• Lack of lighting on campus (classes ending later, walking in the dark, safety concerns around the river)
• Defining hate crimes and hateful things painted on the Rock
• Concerns for students with disabilities on campus
o Goal to educate people more about the Counsel of Students for Disabilities
o Feelings of being the “invisible group” on campus
o Bringing awareness to accessibility issues on campus
o Sharps containers on campus
• Feelings that MSU downplays events/issues happening in the minority communities
• Racist incidents occurring that MSU didn’t acknowledge properly
• Feelings that MSU doesn’t support minority groups (person passing away in Latinx community did not get formal address from President Stanley, no news coverage)
• International students having to choose majors based on what allows them to stay in the country rather than being able to choose the major they want
o Lack of awareness of Optional Practice Training and Curricular Practice and visa issues
o Inclusion for international students and initiatives taken in campus groups to include international students
• Concerns that MSU has an ongoing culture of dismissing important issues
• Lack of protection for student employees on campus
• Make sure to write down and document concerns/events that occur and keep in contact with student leaders to stay educated and informed
• Understanding “red tape” and “higher admin” – understanding that those in higher power may not have the answers to concerns right away, legal barriers stalling progress and the ability to take action
• Education surrounding the process when submitting a report regarding Anti-discrimination Policy (ADP): reporting hate crime, hate speech vs. free speech, etc.
• Financial Aid concerns with the Spartan Advantage